Hon. Rufus Bature has been returned as Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State following a consensus vote at the party’s State Congress held at Langsfield Centre in Jos on Tuesday.
Bature, who previously led the party in the state for four years, was affirmed alongside other executive members in what party leaders described as a peaceful and largely consensus-driven process witnessed by delegates from the 17 local government areas and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In his acceptance speech, Bature described his re-election as an enormous responsibility and pledged to uphold the ideals of the party while working to strengthen its structures across the state.
“This is an enormous responsibility that has been placed on us. We have taken an oath and we will strive to live by it. Members of the APC expect nothing but excellence in our performance, and we will not fail,” he said.
He highlighted achievements recorded under his previous tenure, including the emergence of three senators, 22 members of the State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, 17 local government chairmen, and 325 councillors under the APC platform in the state.
Bature assured party faithful that the leadership would expand the party’s reach ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Our motto is APC everywhere you go. We will take the gospel of the APC to every nook and cranny of Plateau so that by 2027, there will be no community without the presence of our party,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the party for providing what he described as an enabling environment for the congress.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who addressed party members at the event, congratulated the newly elected executives and called for unity among stakeholders.
“From today, nobody should claim loyalty to anyone except to the party and to the state. Our loyalty is to the President and to the people of Plateau State,” the governor said.
He urged party members to intensify grassroots mobilization, announcing a directive for each registered member to attract at least 10 new members within the next month as part of efforts to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor emphasized that unity within the party was critical to sustaining electoral victories and governance success.
“There is profit in unity. A house divided against itself cannot stand. From this day forward, we must champion the cause of unity for the betterment of the platform,” he added.
Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Hon. Oscar Ayedo, while announcing the newly elected executives, commended party members for embracing consensus and democratic principles. He said the process reflected a shared commitment to the growth and stability of the APC in Plateau State.
Earlier, Senator Napoleon Bali told journalists that the congress was part of the party’s scheduled activities and noted that most executive positions were filled through consensus after consultations with stakeholders across the state.
He described the party as united and expressed confidence that the APC would consolidate its victories in the 2027 general elections.
The congress concluded with party leaders expressing optimism that the renewed leadership would reposition the APC for greater success in Plateau State.
