Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has publicly acknowledged mounting pressure from political stakeholders to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but he firmly reaffirmed his commitment to staying put in the opposition party.
Speaking at an event on Saturday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Jos, Mr. Mutfwang addressed the swirling rumors head-on, stating, "They are putting pressure on me to join APC."
The revelation comes amid a broader wave of defections that has seen the PDP lose several governors since the 2023 elections, including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Peter Mbah of Enugu to the APC.
Bayelsa’s Douye Diri has also reportedly resigned from the party, with speculation of a move to the ruling bloc.
As the sole PDP governor in the APC-leaning North-Central region, Mr. Mutfwang faces unique challenges, including a hostile APC-dominated State House of Assembly and persistent ethno-religious violence plaguing Plateau.
His administration has been hailed for initiatives like infrastructure development and security enhancements, but political analysts suggest federal incentives and re-election pressures could be fueling the defection push.
The APC's internal divisions over Mr. Mutfwang's potential entry have only heightened the drama.
Earlier this month, a stakeholders' meeting in Jos, presided over by APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, unanimously rejected a motion to admit the governor, with members chanting, "We don’t want anybody coming to our party.
You do your thing, and we’ll do ours." The decision drew sharp criticism from pro-Tinubu groups like the Renewed Hope Advocates of Nigeria (RHAN), who accused party leaders of sabotage and urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene for a "national unity project."
In June, the North-Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, openly courted Mr. Mutfwang, citing a "directive from above" and his alignment with President Tinubu’s policies evidenced by the governor's Sallah celebration with the president in Lagos.
However, this sparked backlash from APC factions in Plateau, who feared it would undermine internal democracy and hand Mr. Mutfwang control of the state chapter ahead of the 2027 elections.
Despite the overtures, Mr. Mutfwang dismissed the opposition as fear-driven, emphasizing his resolve to rebuild the PDP.
"I am committed to the PDP and will not leave," he declared, echoing previous denials of defection plans.
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