Isaac Samuel
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the political alignment of the North-Central region
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The governor received his APC membership card on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos, the state capital.
Explaining his decision, Mutfwang said the move was informed by the need for purposeful leadership, clarity of direction, and the desire to align Plateau State more closely with the policies and programmes of the Federal Government to fast-track development and improve service delivery.
His defection came about two weeks after the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, publicly announced that the governor had joined the ruling party.
Yilwatda made the disclosure at the party’s National Caucus meeting held in Abuja on December 18, 2025.
“With the defection of Governor Mutfwang, the entire North-Central region is now governed by the APC,” Yilwatda said.
Mutfwang had formally resigned from the PDP in a letter dated December 29, 2025, addressed to the ward chairman of Ampang West Ward in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Elected governor on the PDP platform in 2023, Mutfwang thanked the party for the opportunity and support it accorded him over the years but said prevailing political realities necessitated his decision to seek a new political platform.
His exit further weakens the opposition PDP in the North-Central zone and adds to a growing list of governors who have recently defected to the APC.
Welcoming the governor, Yilwatda described the defection as a boost to the APC’s growing political strength nationwide.
“On behalf of the National Working Committee and the entire family of the All Progressives Congress, I warmly welcome His Excellency, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, into our great party,” he said.
“Your decision to join the progressive family is a bold and patriotic step, driven by a higher calling to serve the people of Plateau State and Nigeria.
“Today’s registration is a statement of hope and commitment to a shared vision of inclusive development, peace, and prosperity for Plateau State. We receive you with open arms and assure you of our readiness to work closely with you to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.”
Details of the internal consultations and circumstances leading to the governor’s defection were not immediately disclosed.
