If Nigerian politics were likened to a theatre, then this past weekend, Jos served as the stage and the All Progressives Congress (APC) delivered a blockbuster performance. With notable defections, passionate declarations, and underlying internal conflicts, the ruling party exhibited both its power and its vulnerabilities in one sweeping drama.
In what resembled a political coronation more than a welcoming ceremony, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, made his entrance alongside a host of influential party figures to greet a new influx of defectors. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio representing President Bola Tinubu added a presidential gravitas to the event, while Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, former Governor Simon Lalong, Senator Diket Plang, and numerous other prominent figures rounded out the scene.
This was a reception filled with stars, clearly signaling that the APC is engaged in an assertive recruitment campaign.
A procession of politicians from the PDP, NNPP, and Labour Party pledged their allegiance to the ruling party. Among them were significant political figures such as former Senator Istifanus Gyang, Professor Patrick Dakum, and Daniel Asama. Their attendance was strategic; their defections, emblematic. Although the APC kept the precise figures confidential, the visual representation alone indicated a political shift rapidly occurring in their favor.
Akpabio, always keen to seize a dramatic moment, proclaimed the PDP in Plateau to be “dead.” In his characteristic style, he extended to the defectors not just a place at the table, but a commitment to “equal rights and privileges.” One could describe it as a political baptism.
Chairman Yilwatda reinforced this sentiment, asserting that “all those who matter” in other parties were now making the transition. For him, this was not just a wave it was a tempest. And the APC aims to harness it to reclaim the Plateau governorship.
However, while Jos reveled in celebration, the political landscape in Taraba trembled violently.
Akpabio, known for his flair for the dramatic, proclaimed the PDP in Plateau as “dead.” True to his style, he extended an invitation to the defectors, not only offering them a place at the table but also a commitment to “equal rights and privileges.” One could describe this as a political baptism.
APC chairman Yilwatda reinforced this sentiment, proudly asserting that “all those who matter” from other parties were now making the switch. For him, this was not just a wave; it was a storm. The APC aims to harness this momentum to reclaim the Plateau governorship.
However, while celebrations erupted in Jos, the political atmosphere in Taraba trembled with intensity.
Governor Kefas Agbu’s shift from the PDP to the APC sent ripples throughout the region. The streets buzzed with conjecture: Was it driven by ambition? Pressure? A need for survival? Or merely a change in ideology? Detractors labeled it as opportunism, while supporters deemed it a strategic move. Yet, APC Taraba Chairman, Ibrahim El-Suldi, brushed aside all criticisms as mere noise. He viewed Agbu’s transition as a “step towards enhanced governance,” even boldly claiming that the governor would excel under the APC.
Taraba is in turmoil. Meanwhile, Plateau is in a state of upheaval.
As the APC embraced defectors in Jos, another faction organized a protest, brandishing placards against the rumored defection of Plateau’s own Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the APC. The irony was palpable: a party reveling in defections while grappling with internal unrest over another.
The North Central APC Forum promptly denounced the protest. Chairman Saleh Zazzaga labeled it “undemocratic” and motivated by self-interest, reminding the protesters that no individual owns a political party, not even its most vocal members.
Ultimately, the events of the weekend unveil an undeniable reality: defections continue to be Nigeria’s preferred political currency. As the APC recruits more supporters for the 2027 elections, the political arena becomes increasingly vibrant, chaotic, and captivating.
