Speculation over a potential defection of Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified, spurred by the circulation of new APC-branded shirts and caps across social media. While the governor has not publicly commented on the matter, political groups and stakeholders across the state are sharply divided—some dismissing the move as dangerous, others insisting it is the missing piece for the APC’s dominance ahead of 2027.
The rumour comes at a time when the APC in Plateau State is experiencing unprecedented internal consolidation under its new National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe. His leadership has been credited with revitalizing the party, restoring discipline, and attracting defectors from across political divides. In just six months, the APC has regained most of its political structure: all but one National Assembly member from Plateau are in the party, along with 22 out of 24 State Assembly members. Even key figures from Governor Mutfwang’s political family—his campaign Director General, his ward chairman, and several aides—have abandoned the PDP for the APC.
These realities have raised a central question: If Governor Mutfwang were to defect, what would he bring to the APC—and what are the odds of him being accepted?
Different Voices, Conflicting Interests
While several groups vehemently oppose the move, others believe Mutfwang’s entry could reshape the political landscape.
PYPC: “APC Needs Mutfwang More Than the Rumour Suggests”
A youth political accountability group, Plateau Youths for Progressive Change (PYPC), argues that recent defections from the PDP to the APC are insignificant without Governor Mutfwang himself joining.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Ezra Yakubu, the group described the defections as “meaningless,” insisting that the APC’s quest to reclaim Plateau in 2027 would require the strength of a sitting governor.
Yakubu faulted APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda for what he called a “derogatory” assertion that the APC was already set to take Plateau in 2027. According to him, “those blocking Mutfwang from joining the APC must rethink,” insisting that the governor remains a strategic asset despite internal political rifts.
Immediate Past Elected Councillors: “Mutfwang Must Never Be Allowed In”
On the other side of the divide, strong opposition continues to mount. The Immediate Past Elected Councillors Forum of Plateau State held a press conference rejecting what they described as the governor’s “desperate attempt” to join the APC.
Addressing journalists in Jos, spokesperson Mr. Dabit John Dashe criticized the governor’s leadership record and past positions against the APC, reminding the public that Mutfwang had repeatedly claimed there was “no APC in Plateau State.”
The group accused him of poor governance, including:
- disengaging over 4,000 Plateau youths from employment,
- ignoring Supreme Court judgments,
- removing elected chairmen and councillors across the 17 LGAs, and
- overseeing economic and infrastructural decline.
They insisted these actions disqualify him from joining a party they describe as “progressive and reform-focused.”
The councillors also recalled the governor’s harsh rhetoric during the 2023 elections, including what they referred to as “calumnious campaigns” against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. They argued that inviting Mutfwang into the APC would betray party loyalists and contradict the party’s ideological consistency.
The group went further to endorse President Tinubu for re-election in 2027 and reaffirmed their confidence in Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda’s leadership.
Decampees to APC: “We Left Mutfwang for a Reason”
Another pressure group, the Association of Decampees to the APC, also rejects the idea of Mutfwang joining the party. The group, led by Hon. Mutbel Danlami, argues that welcoming the governor would undermine internal cohesion and betray thousands who defected from the PDP because of what they describe as Mutfwang’s “exclusive and oppressive leadership style.”
Their message was blunt:
“APC must not become a rehabilitation center for rejected leaders.”
So, What Are the Odds?
With the APC gaining momentum under Prof. Nentawe and most of Plateau’s political structure already in its fold, the political value Governor Mutfwang brings remains a subject of heated debate.
- Those in favor see him as a powerful asset and a strategic state actor whose defection could completely tilt Plateau’s 2027 political equation, especially given that he is widely loved and supported by the masses.
- Those opposed see him as a political liability whose leadership style, broken trust, and declining base could harm the party rather than strengthen it.
Given the loud and coordinated resistance from major APC blocs, the odds appear stacked against the governor being welcomed into the party—at least under current conditions.
Still, Plateau politics is known for its unpredictability. If the rumours hold any truth, Governor Mutfwang’s next political steps may determine not only his future but also the balance of power heading into 2027.
For now, the question remains open:
If Governor Mutfwang wants to join the APC, will the APC open its doors—or shut them firmly?