Plateau Governor Mutfwang Picks APC Card, PDP Cries Betrayal

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has sparked sharp reactions from his former party.

The governor was formally received into the APC on Friday in Jos, where the state chairman of the party, Rufus Bature, presented him with his APC membership card. Speaking at the event, Governor Mutfwang said his decision to join the APC was taken in the overall interest of Plateau State.

Describing his defection as a “journey of faith,” the governor assured residents that the state would reap the dividends of the new political alignment. He pledged to run an all-inclusive government despite the change in party affiliation and urged the people of the state to remain united.

“I know there are skeptics, but I say be patient. Time will reveal everything. To the fearful, I say take courage and fear no more because we have come for good,” Mutfwang said. “We have come to join hands and work together.”

The governor expressed gratitude to the PDP for providing him with a platform for his political rise, noting that the defection would further spur him to deliver quality leadership to the state. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his “deep love” for Plateau State and pledged to support the president’s re-election bid in 2027.

However, the PDP in Plateau State strongly condemned the governor’s defection, describing it as a betrayal of the public mandate freely given to him by the people. In a statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Choji Felix, the PDP said it formally received a letter notifying it of Mutfwang’s resignation on January 2.

According to the party, the resignation letter was delivered to the PDP state secretariat through the chairman of the party in Ampang West Ward, Mangu Local Government Area. The PDP accused the governor of abandoning “the very party that brought him to power” and placing personal ambition above the collective interest of Plateau residents.

“Governor Mutfwang’s action is a slap in the face of the people of Plateau State who trusted him against all odds,” the statement read. “It represents a betrayal of the party’s ideals and the public mandate freely given to him.”

The PDP rejected claims that the governor consulted the party before defecting, insisting that it was neither informed nor involved in the decision-making process. The party described the move as political opportunism that undermines democratic accountability and the will of the electorate.

The party further urged Plateau residents to hold the governor accountable and warned the APC against accepting him, saying such an action would make the ruling party complicit in what it described as a betrayal of the people.

Despite the development, the PDP reaffirmed its commitment to democratic values, good governance and participation in future elections, assuring members and supporters that the party remains strong and united.

Meanwhile, a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has sought to calm tensions within the PDP. In a statement issued through his media consultant, Clinton Garuba, Jang said he had earlier been informed by Governor Mutfwang of his intention to defect, a decision the governor said he believed was in the state’s interest.

Jang assured party members that the PDP in Plateau State remains stable and focused on strengthening internal democracy and promoting inclusive governance. While wishing Governor Mutfwang well in his future political pursuits, the former governor urged him to remain committed to serving the people of Plateau State.

“Ultimately, power lies in the hands of the people,” Jang said.