The Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated the Tinubu Torch Bearers, with party leaders charging women across the state to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The inauguration, held on Friday August 21, 2026 at Yakubu Gowon Hall, Crispan Hotels, Jos, was convened by the Plateau State APC Women Leader, Hon. Longret Tokden.
Representing Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the event, Deputy Governor H.E. Ngo Josephine Talatu congratulated the leadership and members of the initiative for their vision and determination, describing the gathering as more than a political event but a convergence of like-minded people united by their belief in the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Mutfwang.
The deputy governor urged leaders and citizens to remain active participants in building a Nigeria where all citizens, irrespective of tribe or background, can thrive. She charged the Torch Bearers to make the organisation a platform for civic education and responsible mobilisation while rejecting violence, hate speech and misinformation.
She also called on young people to take greater responsibility for the political development of the country and urged the group to extend its activities beyond political mobilisation to supporting less privileged persons, women and broader community development. She said the Mutfwang administration would continue to support women, youths and enterprise development across the state.
In his remark, the APC State Chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature, described the Torch Bearers as leaders and grassroots mobilisers, saying their inauguration marked the commencement of serious political mobilisation. He urged them to work with other support groups and party structures to secure victory for all APC candidates, while taking the achievements of President Tinubu and Governor Mutfwang to the grassroots.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Caroline Dafur Panglang, assured the group that Plateau women were ready to deliver victory for President Tinubu and Governor Mutfwang in 2027. She highlighted various interventions of the Tinubu administration, including women empowerment initiatives, support for older persons and persons with disabilities, among others, urging the women to take the message to their communities through sustained door-to-door mobilisation.
Also addressing members of the group and party faithfuls, the APC North Central Women Leader Dr. Esther Samuel Alu described Tinubu Torch Bearers suppourt group as a unique initiative and charged the newly appointed coordinators to see their positions as a call to service. She urged them to work in synergy with the party’s women leadership and other support groups rather than compete with existing structures, stressing that their responsibility was to help deliver all APC candidates in the state.
She also commended Governor Mutfwang for appointing a woman as his deputy, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to women’s participation in governance.
The Plateau State APC Women Leader, who convened the event and is the convener of the Tinubu Torch Bearers, expressed appreciation to Governor Mutfwang for creating opportunities for women in his administration and commended the party chairman for his support. She charged women to reach every nook and cranny of the state in their mobilisation efforts, noting that women constitute a significant proportion of the electorate.
Also speaking, Barr. Helen Mutfwang, wife of the Plateau State Governor, described the inauguration as more than a political gathering, saying it symbolised Plateau women’s readiness to mobilise support for the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu and the administration of Governor Mutfwang. She urged the newly inaugurated Torch Bearers to return to their communities and intensify mobilisation, stressing that political work had already commenced.
The event featured cultural displays showcasing Plateau’s rich heritage, presentation of flags to coordinators from the 17 local government areas, and the presentation of torch lights to designated leaders, including the wife of the Plateau State Governor.
The inauguration ended with renewed calls for sustained grassroots mobilisation and cooperation among APC structures and support groups ahead of the 2027 elections.
