Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, Abbas to Attend APC Presidential Rally in Plateau
By Comfort Pius, Jos
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and other top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Plateau State on Saturday, November 14, for the party’s North-Central presidential campaign rally.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Arc. Samuel N. Jatau, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the NUJ Secretariat, saying the rally would take place at the Zaria Road Stadium at 10:00 a.m.
Jatau said the delegation would also include First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, state governors, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, members of the party’s National Working Committee, Director-General of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, members of the Presidential Campaign Council and other party leaders and stakeholders.
He described the presidential visit as a significant political gathering that would provide Plateau State with an opportunity to demonstrate its hospitality and reaffirm its place in the country’s democratic development.
According to him, preparations for the rally were at an advanced stage, with the Plateau State Government, under Governor Caleb Mutfwang, working in collaboration with the APC national and state leadership, relevant government institutions and other stakeholders to ensure a successful and peaceful event.
He said preparations covered venue readiness, transportation, traffic management, security coordination, crowd control, emergency response and general logistics.
Jatau added that the committee was working closely with security and emergency management agencies to ensure adequate arrangements for access control, the movement of dignitaries, screening procedures and the safety of participants.
He appealed to residents, motorists, business operators, party supporters and other road users to cooperate with the relevant authorities, comply with security directives and exercise patience where temporary traffic adjustments might become necessary.
On the relationship between Plateau State and the Federal Government, the LOC chairman said Governor Mutfwang’s defection to the APC in January 2026 had strengthened political cooperation between the state and the party’s national leadership.
He said the development had created an important platform for greater engagement with the Federal Government and the advancement of the state’s development priorities.
Jatau identified the ongoing construction of the Akwanga-Jos Road, the rehabilitation of the Sharram-Garram-Babban Lamba Road in Kanke and the approval of the Mararaban Jama’a-Kanke-Langtang-Shendam-Ibi Road, extending to Taraba State, as major infrastructure projects expected to improve connectivity within the state and beyond.
He also said arrangements were being made for the installation of surveillance cameras promised by the Federal Government, adding that the installation was expected to commence soon.
According to him, approval had also been granted for the recruitment and training of 1,000 Forest Guards to strengthen community-level security, improve surveillance and enhance the protection of lives and property.
On the state government’s interventions, Jatau said the Mutfwang administration had introduced measures in education, agriculture, healthcare and transportation to improve the living conditions of residents.
In the education sector, he said the government had reduced school fees, increased allowances for students in tertiary institutions and provided international scholarships.
He added that students from 14 tertiary institutions across the state had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with loans totalling N11.34 billion.
In agriculture, Jatau said the government had introduced subsidies on farm inputs to support farmers, improve productivity and strengthen food security.
On healthcare, he said a central drug warehouse valued at N590 million was being constructed under the Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency to help prevent the circulation of fake pharmaceuticals and improve access to essential medicines at reduced costs across hospitals in the state.
He further said the government had provided 30 Metro buses and revived the Plateau Express Service with 20 new Sienna buses to operate on the Jos-Abuja route and other parts of the country.
He added that more buses were expected to be deployed for inter-local government transportation.
The LOC chairman said the forthcoming rally would also provide an opportunity for the APC to reaffirm its commitment to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and engage party members and supporters on its programmes and vision.
He called on APC members, supporters and well-wishers across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State and the North-Central region to turn out peacefully and responsibly to welcome the President and the national party delegation.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, Ayuku Pwaspo, assured the organising committee of the union’s support and cooperation towards the success of the rally. Pwaspo said the union appreciated its partnership with the government, expressed satisfaction with the preparations and resources committed to the Zaria Road Stadium, and expressed confidence that Plateau State would demonstrate the hospitality and goodwill of its people during the President’s visit.
