In a major political development in Plateau State, Barrister Gyang Zi (SAN), the Labour Party’s 2023 Senatorial candidate for Plateau North, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The prominent legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria was formally received on Tuesday 22nd April, at the APC State Secretariat, Kalwa House, by the Plateau State APC Chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature, alongside other party leaders and supporters.
Barr. Zi announced that his defection to the APC came after wide consultations and would include the movement of thousands of his supporters from the Labour Party. He was joined by former House of Assembly candidates from all six local government areas in Plateau North, as well as a former chairmanship candidate, further signifying a major shift in the region’s political dynamics.
“You can see that I’m excited. I’m not here alone; I’m here with my entire team,” Zi said. “We want to build a better nation. The president’s bold policies, including subsidy removal and tax reforms, although tough, are steps in the right direction. These informed our decision to align with the APC.”
He added that the move had the backing of stakeholders not only from the Labour Party but also from other political parties, including the PDP, some of whose members also joined him in defecting to the APC.
Barr. Zi expressed appreciation to party leaders, especially those in the diaspora, for their support. He singled out Dr. Bernard Doro, Director of Finance, APC UK, and other members of the APC in the United Kingdom for their consistent encouragement. Their involvement, he noted, reflects the party’s extensive reach and unity.
Looking ahead, Barr. Zi subtly hinted at his continued political ambition and emphasized his readiness to contribute to strengthening the APC in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Receiving him, APC State Chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature, described Zi’s defection as a strategic and welcome development for the party. He praised Zi as a young, accomplished professional whose integrity and vision would bring new energy to the APC’s “Renewed Hope” agenda championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Bature likened President Tinubu’s reforms to “a painful surgery without anesthesia,” but expressed optimism that, in time, Nigerians would benefit from the bold policy decisions being made.
He further assured Zi of equal status in the APC, emphasizing that the party does not discriminate between old and new members. “APC is open to all. You are here not as a visitor but as a full member with all rights and privileges,” he said.
Bature also called on others across political divides to seize the opportunity and join the APC, warning that waiting until the tide turns might be too late.
Among those present during the declaration were Dr. Bernard Dauda, APC UK Deputy Chairman; Dr. Bernard Doro, APC UK Director of Finance; and Dr. Jasper Adeleye, APC UK Deputy Organizing Secretary. They were joined by former Labour Party candidates and PDP members from Plateau North, further underscoring the growing momentum of the APC in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the APC UK delegation, Dr. Bernard Doro expressed excitement over the move, saying, “The APC in the Northern Zone will never be the same again. This is a game-changer. We’re committed to building bridges and supporting the party both at home and in the diaspora.”
The defection marks a significant realignment of political forces in Plateau North and is expected to reshape the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.