The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced plans to formally receive Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, into its fold in January following his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The disclosure was made on Monday, December 22, by the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Crest Hotel in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
According to Yilwatda, the governor’s switch to the ruling party was earlier made public last Thursday at the 14th APC National Caucus meeting held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Addressing party leaders and members at the Jos meeting, the APC chairman described Mutfwang’s defection as a major boost for the party, stating that it would strengthen the APC’s structure and political influence across Plateau State.
“The coming on board of Governor Caleb Mutfwang will further energise and solidify our party. Plateau State has now effectively aligned with the APC,” Yilwatda said.
He further noted that the party remained open to welcoming more defectors ahead of the 2027 general elections, emphasising that broad-based participation was critical to securing victory at all levels. He also encouraged members to actively engage in the ongoing electronic membership registration exercise to formalise their status within the party.
Also speaking at the gathering, former Plateau State Governor and current senator, Simon Lalong, praised party members for their commitment and steadfast support for the APC despite political challenges.
Lalong, who serves as the APC leader in Plateau State, urged members to remain calm amid recent political shifts, assuring them that their interests would not be sidelined.
He promised that loyal party members would continue to be recognised and fully involved in all political decisions and arrangements within the APC.
In his remarks, the APC State Chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to unity and internal harmony, assuring members that leadership decisions would be respected while maintaining cohesion.
The meeting attracted several high-profile party figures, including Senator Diket Plang, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Ahmed Idris Wase, Dr Babayo Gagdi, Hon. John Dafa’an, Hon. Dalyop Fom, and the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Naanlong Daniel, alongside other lawmakers.
Other notable attendees included Senator I.D. Gyang, Victor Lar, Hezekiah Dimka, former Secretary to the State Government S.D. Lot, John Gobak, Managing Director of the North Central Development Commission Dr Cyril Tsenyil, Dr Umar Mantu, Prof. Artu, and retired General John Sura, among others.
It was recalled that the APC had previously expressed reservations about Mutfwang’s potential entry into the party. At a stakeholders’ meeting held in Jos in October, party leaders had reportedly voted against admitting the governor.
However, that position later changed, with Yilwatda announcing last Thursday that Mutfwang had officially joined the APC—a development the governor publicly confirmed the following day.
‘President Tinubu Personally Convinced Me’ — Mutfwang
Speaking at a separate meeting with political appointees and stakeholders at the Government House in Jos, Governor Mutfwang revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally encouraged him to defect to the APC.
He explained that he initially resisted the move out of loyalty to his political beliefs and earlier commitments.
“I deeply respect President Tinubu for honouring our previous decision not to defect and for maintaining a cordial relationship with us despite that,” the governor said.
Mutfwang added that several influential political figures, including APC governors, had previously attempted to persuade him to join the ruling party, but unresolved leadership and structural crises within the PDP at the national level eventually influenced his decision to leave.
He also noted that despite past political disagreements with the Plateau APC, the Tinubu-led Federal Government had maintained a cooperative and respectful relationship with his administration.
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