The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, formally received Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, into the party at a well-attended event in Jos, marking Plateau’s entry into the ruling party’s fold and completing APC’s dominance in the North-Central geopolitical zone.
Welcoming the governor, Plateau State APC Chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature, described the moment as historic, saying Plateau had chosen a “tent of possibilities.”
“Plateau has always come first. This is a tent of possibilities. We are a God-sent people, and our God is a God of all possibilities,” Bature said. “We have accepted His Excellency and we will do everything possible to make the government of Plateau State work.”
Delivering a goodwill message, Chairman of the North-Central Governors’ Forum and Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, said Governor Mutfwang made the right decision by joining the APC.
“Today we are complete in the North Central. Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Benue and Kwara are all APC,” Sule declared. “There is no team that can beat the Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Kashim Shettima team, and we welcome you fully into this family.”
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, described the APC as a united family bringing renewed hope to Plateau State.
“APC is a family that is strong, bold and courageous,” Uzodimma said. “Today, the hopes of Plateau people are renewed, prosperity is touching the state, and expectations are rising.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said Plateau’s entry into the APC completed the North-Central for the ruling party and assured victory in future elections.
“This is a day of history. North Central is now totally complete for APC,” Abbas stated. “I advise the governor to embrace reconciliation and give every member a sense of belonging so that Plateau can move forward in unity.”
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, described Governor Mutfwang as the “newest bride of the APC” and said the move would restore peace and development to Plateau State.
“With this movement, unity has returned to Plateau,” Akpabio said. “IDPs will return to their homes, farmers will return to their farms, and peace must return to Plateau. The National Assembly will support reforms that bring prosperity to the state.”
Speaking earlier, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, said the governor’s entry symbolised unity and strength for the party.
“Today I wear two caps: as a son of Plateau and as National Chairman of APC,” Yilwatda said. “All political structures that contested in Plateau in 2023 have collapsed into one strong, united APC. Come 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win Plateau overwhelmingly.”
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the APC flag to Governor Mutfwang, officially sealing his entry into the party.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Mutfwang said the decision was a strategic realignment aimed at repositioning Plateau State and supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda.
“Today, we have begun a journey that will redefine the political demography of Nigeria,” Mutfwang said. “Our movement to the APC signifies that the President can rely on the North Central for votes in 2027. We are not defecting; we are realigning to reap the dividends of democracy.”
He assured Plateau residents that his administration remained committed to unity, peace and inclusive governance.
“We have come to add value, to make the party stronger and to stop the wastages of political rivalry,” he added. “Plateau will move together in unity, across faith and ethnicity.”
Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima, in his address, praised Plateau State’s historical contribution to Nigeria’s unity and described Governor Mutfwang as a unifying leader.
“Plateau reminds us that what powers every nation is unity rooted in shared purpose,” Shettima said. “In Governor Mutfwang, we see a leader committed to peace, justice and equity. The dividends of this political realignment will begin to manifest soon.”
The event was attended by governors, members of the National Assembly, party leaders, and political stakeholders from across the country, signaling a major political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
