North-Central APC forum hails Mutfwang’s defection

The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has commended Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, describing the move as historic and strategic for the region.

The forum, in a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, on Friday, welcomed the Plateau governor into the party while thanking him for heeding their call.

The forum assured the governor of their full support, recalling that the Forum had, since April 2024, consistently campaigned for Mutfwang to join the APC

Mutfwang’s defection was formally confirmed on Thursday night by the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, during the party’s 14th National Caucus meeting held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The Forum in the statement further commended the governor for directing all his aides to defect with him to the ruling party.

The Forum described Mutfwang’s decision as a major political milestone, noting that the North-Central has now become the only geopolitical zone with all six states governed by APC governors.

“We are pleased to announce the successful culmination of our agitation and campaign for Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State to join the APC. We thank him for heeding our call, which was motivated by our commitment to the interests of Plateau State and the entire North-Central,” the statement said.

It added that the campaign was driven by the governor’s performance in office and the belief that he would achieve more on a stable political platform such as the APC.

The Forum further said Mutfwang’s defection would strengthen collaboration with President Bola Tinubu and enhance the delivery of democratic dividends to the people of Plateau State and the wider North-Central region.

“With this development, the North-Central is now the only zone where all six states are governed by the APC. This historic achievement has actualised our vision of delivering the entire region to our great party,” the Forum stated.

Reaffirming its political commitment ahead of the 2027 general election, the Forum restated its pledge to deliver six million votes for President Tinubu’s re-election. It recalled that the target was increased from four million to six million votes in April 2025, alongside a commitment to win all elective positions in the zone.

“Our pledge to deliver six million votes for Mr President is on course, especially now that all states in the zone are under the APC. The President can rest assured of the North-Central’s support in 2027,” the statement said.

The Forum also thanked Tinubu for providing what it described as the leadership environment that made Mutfwang’s defection possible.

It recalled that shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed Mutfwang’s election in April 2024, the Forum formally invited him to join the APC and notified the party’s national secretariat of the move. It also cited a March 2024 meeting with Plateau APC leaders in Abuja, convened to strategise on his defection.

The statement noted that rumours of Mutfwang’s defection had surfaced in December 2024, following the circulation of his photograph alongside APC governors during the Edo State governorship election, which he later denied through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.

Despite opposition from some Plateau APC leaders, who in October 2025 passed a motion rejecting his possible defection, the Forum maintained that such resistance was driven by personal interests rather than the party’s collective good.

The Forum dismissed protests and rallies staged by some APC members in Plateau State, and rejected claims that the APC National Chairman attempted to block Mutfwang’s entry into the party.

It insisted that the national chairman had no authority to prevent the governor’s defection, stressing that only APC ward executives in Mutfwang’s Mangu Ward were constitutionally empowered to admit him.

The Forum also reiterated its earlier call on Tinubu and APC governors, under the Progressive Governors Forum, to intervene and ensure a smooth integration of Governor Mutfwang into the party.