Jos, Plateau State – Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the recent defection of Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a strategic and timely move that will significantly strengthen efforts to curb the persistent insecurity and killings plaguing the state.
Akpabio made the remarks on Monday during a grand official reception ceremony organized in Jos to formally welcome Governor Muftwang into the APC fold. The event drew large crowds of party faithful, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and supporters who gathered to celebrate what many described as a new dawn for Plateau State.
Speaking directly to the governor and the enthusiastic audience, the Senate President described Muftwang’s decision to align with the ruling party at the centre as both courageous and necessary for the safety, stability, and development of Plateau residents.
Akpabio emphasized that closer cooperation with the federal government would unlock greater national support, including enhanced security interventions, funding for development projects, and improved coordination in tackling the root causes of violence.
“But I do know that with you, a pastor, when the righteous is on the throne, the people must rejoice,” Akpabio said. “The people of Plateau must rejoice under your regime and you couldn’t have done that just by being in opposition.”
He recounted a private conversation with the governor during a previous visit, revealing that Muftwang had confided in him about his desire to find the most effective way to protect his people.
“The last time I came, you whispered back to me and said, ‘Your Excellency, the Senate President, I’m thinking of the best way to save my people and I cannot save them under the opposition. I want to join the center, I want to reconnect Plateau State and Plateau people to the center so I can bring more good dividends of democracy to them.’”
Akpabio declared that Muftwang’s prayers had been answered, assuring the gathering that the governor’s alignment with the APC would deliver tangible benefits and accelerate peace-building efforts.
“I can tell you that your prayers are answered. We are witnesses to this occasion that through you that good things are going to come to the Plateau. Killings must be minimized and must be reduced. And in totality, peace must return to the Plateau,” he stated.
In a powerful prayerful declaration, the Senate President invoked divine intervention: “With our presence here today, we will cross our feet and pray to Almighty God that the devil we saw yesterday and some that we would have seen today, we shall soon see them no more. Every person that troubles you in the Plateau, may the person not see the end of this year in Jesus’ name.”
The Senate President praised Governor Muftwang’s background as a pastor, expressing strong confidence that his moral leadership and spiritual insight would bring lasting relief to communities long devastated by recurring violence, displacement, and loss of life.
Akpabio assured the governor of the full backing of the APC national leadership and the National Assembly in tackling the state’s security challenges and advancing critical development initiatives. He pledged that lawmakers would prioritize legislative support for policies and interventions aimed at ending insecurity and fostering economic growth in Plateau.
The defection of Governor Muftwang—along with several key political figures and lawmakers—marks a major realignment in Plateau State politics. It is widely seen as a strategic move to strengthen collaboration between the state and federal government under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in areas of security, infrastructure, agriculture, and human capital development.
Plateau State has faced years of complex security crises involving communal clashes, farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, and attacks by armed groups, resulting in hundreds of deaths, widespread displacement, and destruction of property.
The Senate President’s remarks reflect the APC’s position that political unity at the state and federal levels is essential for effective security coordination, rapid deployment of resources, and sustainable peace-building.
The reception ceremony in Jos was marked by jubilation, with APC supporters chanting slogans of unity, progress, and renewed hope for Plateau State. Governor Muftwang is expected to formally outline his administration’s next steps in aligning with federal priorities in the coming days.
As Plateau joins the growing list of states under APC leadership, attention now turns to how the new political configuration will translate into concrete improvements in security and quality of life for residents.
