The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has commended Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC. The forum described the move as historic and strategic for the region. In a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the forum welcomed the Plateau governor into the party and thanked him for heeding their call.
The governor’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 assured the governor of their full support, recalling that they had consistently campaigned for Mutfwang to join the APC since April 2024.
Mutfwang’s decision to direct all his aides to defect with him to the ruling party was also commended by the forum. The move is seen as a major political milestone, with the North-Central becoming the only geopolitical zone with all six states governed by APC governors. The forum believes that this development will 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.
The forum restated its pledge to deliver six million votes for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, a target that was increased from four million in April 2025. The forum expressed its commitment to winning all elective positions in the zone and thanked Tinubu for providing a conducive leadership environment that made Mutfwang’s defection possible.
The forum’s efforts to convince Mutfwang to join the APC date back to April 2024, when they formally invited him to join the party. Despite initial resistance from some Plateau APC leaders, the forum maintained that such opposition 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, reiterating its call for a smooth integration of Governor Mutfwang into the party.
The successful defection of Governor Mutfwang is seen as a significant development in the region’s political landscape. With all six states in the North-Central zone now governed by APC governors, the party is poised to consolidate its position in the region. The forum’s commitment to delivering six million votes for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is a testament to the party’s confidence in its ability to mobilize support in the region.