Speculation surrounding a possible defection of Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified following the viral circulation of APC-branded shirts and caps on social media. Although the governor has not commented publicly, political stakeholders across the state remain sharply divided—some warning that the move would be destabilizing, others insisting it would consolidate APC’s strength ahead of the 2027 elections.
The rumour comes amid renewed momentum within the Plateau APC under its new National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe. His leadership has been credited with reviving the party, enforcing internal discipline, and attracting new members across political blocs. Within six months, the APC has reclaimed much of its political structure: all but one National Assembly member from the state are now in the party, alongside 22 of 24 members of the State House of Assembly. Even key allies of Governor Mutfwang—his campaign Director General, ward chairman, and several aides—have defected from the PDP to the APC.
These developments have triggered a central debate: What political value would Governor Mutfwang bring to the APC if he defects—and would the party accept him?
Mixed Reactions as Political Interest Groups Take Sides
PYPC: “APC Needs Mutfwang More Than the Rumour Suggests”
A political accountability group, the Plateau Youths for Progressive Change (PYPC), argued that recent defections from the PDP amount to little without the governor himself joining the APC.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Ezra Yakubu, the group said the defections were “meaningless,” insisting that a sitting governor remains crucial to the APC’s ambition to reclaim Plateau in 2027. Yakubu criticized Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda’s assertion that the APC had already positioned itself to win in 2027, describing the comment as “derogatory.” He urged those purportedly blocking the governor’s entry to “rethink,” saying Mutfwang remains a “strategic asset” despite internal political rifts.
Immediate Past Elected Councillors: “Mutfwang Must Not Be Admitted”
Meanwhile, resistance to the governor’s rumoured defection is growing among other stakeholders. The Immediate Past Elected Councillors Forum of Plateau State held a press conference in Jos rejecting what they called the governor’s “desperate attempt” to join the APC.
Spokesperson Dabit John Dashe faulted the governor’s leadership record and recalled his past remarks dismissing the APC’s presence in the state. He accused Mutfwang of poor governance, citing:
- the disengagement of more than 4,000 employed youths,
- alleged disregard for Supreme Court judgments,
- the removal of elected chairmen and councillors across all 17 LGAs, and
- worsening economic and infrastructural conditions.
The forum insisted these actions render Mutfwang unfit for a party they describe as “progressive and reform-driven.”
The Unanswered Question
For now, one question remains:
If Governor Mutfwang truly seeks to join the APC, will the party open its doors—or shut them firmly?
