Mutfwang Defects to APC, Declares Support for Tinubu’s Re‑election Bid

Yemi Kosoko in Jos

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Friday formally announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a step toward unifying the state’s fractured political landscape and strengthening Plateau’s voice at the national level.

Speaking at a packed ceremony at the Government House in Rayfield Jos which was attended by federal and state lawmakers, party leaders, and top government officials, Mutfwang said his decision followed “prayer, consultation, and deep reflection.”

“I have decided to accept the membership of the APC,” he declared to loud applause.

The governor framed his defection as part of a broader mission to heal longstanding political divisions in the state.

“One of the things I have dreamt about is that Plateau should be united,” he said.

“I don’t care what side we belong to… if indeed you love Plateau, you are my brother.”

Mutfwang reflected on years of political acrimony under successive administrations, noting that divisions persisted even after he assumed office.

He said he had prayed for reconciliation with former Governor Simon Lalong, adding humorously; “May God cause Governor Lalong to fall into my hands. And today, I have captured you.”

The governor highlighted the symbolic significance of sitting alongside former political opponents. “Who would have thought that Honourable Yusuf Gagdi and I would be sitting on the same bench?” he asked. “God is a miracle worker.”

He stressed that members of his former party, the PDP, remain his “friends and brothers,” insisting that his defection was not an act of hostility.

Mutfwang reaffirmed his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, saying he had pledged support for the administration since June 2023.

“I am committed to his presidency and committed to his re‑election,” he said.

“Things may not have met everybody’s expectations, but I know his determination to fix the challenges of Nigeria.”

He added that joining the APC would ensure his counsel is taken “as one from the inside,” giving Plateau a stronger presence in national conversations.

The governor expressed optimism about future elections in the state. “I look forward to one of the most peaceful elections in the history of Plateau State in 2027,” he said.

He predicted that the state could deliver one million votes for President Tinubu.

APC State Chairman Rufus Bature described the governor’s entry into the party as a historic moment, stressing that “For everything there is a time — and the time is now.”

Bature then presented Mutfwang with his APC membership card, officially completing the defection process.

“Having fulfilled all the requirements of the party constitution, we accept you as a full member of the APC,” he announced.

Governor Mutfwang defection to APC alongside his deputy Josephine Piyol, members of the State Executive Council as well as some appointees and Chairmen of the seventeen local government councils in the state.