A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Yakubu Dati, has said that the defection of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to the APC would strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Dati stated that Mutfwang’s move would align the Plateau State governor with the federal government and the leadership of President Tinubu.
According to him, the defection would further consolidate support for the President and the APC as preparations for the next general election intensify.
Dati added that aligning with the centre would provide political stability and create room for enhanced development, leadership capacity, and strategic negotiation.
“No doubt, alignment with the centre, especially under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, offers political comfort to deepen development driven by leadership capacity and strategic negotiation,” he said.
He noted that political defections often come with broader support structures, including lawmakers, commissioners, and local government officials, which he described as a significant advantage for the ruling party.
“Governors rarely defect alone. They move with their political structures. This strengthens the ruling party and boosts its position ahead of 2027,” Dati added.
Dati further argued that Governor Mutfwang’s defection would be beneficial to the development of Plateau State, saying it signals a shift away from sentimental politics toward mainstream national engagement.
He said the governor’s move would align Plateau State more closely with the federal government, improve access to resources, fast-track development projects, and enhance the state’s influence in national policymaking.
“The realignment will also help reduce partisan tensions, promote smoother governance, and enable quicker implementation of infrastructure and security initiatives,” Dati said.
