Plateau’s entry affirms APC is party for all Nigerians –Shettima

By Egena Sunday Ode

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said the formal entry of Plateau State into the All Progressives Congress (APC) is an affirmation that the governing party is truly a national platform that is open to all Nigerians committed to unity, peace and inclusive development.
He described the party as the destination of all citizens who believe in a united future, just as he maintained that the APC remains committed to national unity and inclusive governance.
Speaking on Tuesday during the grand reception of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, and his supporters into the APC food at the Jos Polo Field, the Vice President noted that the political realignment was a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s shared destiny.
“Plateau is a reminder that what powers us, what powers every nation, is unity, a unity rooted not in sameness but in shared purpose. It is on that basis that we gather here today,” he declared.
According to a statement by the spokesman to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Senator Shettima recalled Plateau’s historic contributions to Nigeria’s survival and cohesion, paying tribute to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and other military and diplomatic figures from the state who played defining roles in preserving national unity during difficult periods in the country’s history.
“In him (Gowon), Plateau gave Nigeria a leader whose strength lay in reconciliation, and whose legacy reminds us that nations survive not by conquest but by healing,” VP Shettima said, adding that the sacrifices of Plateau’s sons and daughters are written into the survival of the nation’s collective existence.
The Vice President conveyed assurances from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that Governor Mutfwang would enjoy full standing and recognition within the APC, describing good governance as an asset to any political movement committed to national progress.
Stating that Plateau’s presence in the APC demonstrates the party’s readiness to accommodate diversity and build consensus across political, ethnic and religious divides, he stressed that the state’s contributions to national life extend beyond politics into commerce, scholarship, arts and peacebuilding.
“To have Plateau in the All Progressives Congress is to show the world that we are indeed prepared to be the party for all Nigerians,” the Vice President said.
VP Shettima also highlighted Plateau’s tradition of political leadership, referencing figures such as Solomon Lar and Fidelis Tapgun, whom he said helped redefine Nigeria’s political culture by promoting dialogue, inclusion and consensus-building.
Commending Governor Mutfwang, he described him as a unifying leader whose administration has begun to reposition Plateau State from conflict and stagnation towards peace and transformation.
The Vice President praised the governor’s policy initiatives, citing efforts to build peace across communities, deploy renewable energy to support primary healthcare centres, expand agricultural programmes for farmers, revitalise transport infrastructure and implement budgets focused on education, healthcare and youth empowerment.
Earlier, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, commended APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, for delivering Plateau State to the APC.
He applauded Governor Mutfwang and assured him of victory in 2027, saying hus defection to the governing party is significant because it depicts completeness for APC in the North Central.
Also Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said it is a day of history for Plateau State, observing that the state is the last in the North Central zone to join the APC.
He said it signifies that the geopolitical zone was now completely APC, just as he passed a vote of confidence in the APC as the leading political party in Nigeria and the whole of Africa.
On his part, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Yilwatda, said the Governor’s entry into the party food is massive, disclosing that candidates of many other political parties in previous elections are now in the APC.
Prof. Yilwatda said the APC will ensure that there is social justice and equity in the state, adding that peace will also be sustained by the coming together of many people, Muslims and Christians, to ensure there is sustainable peace across the state.
For his part, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who spoke on behalf of APC Governors, described Governor Mutfwang as one of the best and brightest.
Speaking about his decision to join the APC, Governor Mutfwang said Plateau State chose to embark on a journey that will reposition the state to give full support to President Tinubu for his re-election in 2027