Mutfwang says he’s under pressure to defect to APC but vows to stay in PDP
Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau State Governor, says he is under pressure from political figures to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at an event over the weekend at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Jos, Mutfwang said only God and the people who voted him into office could decide his political future.
“It is true that they have been putting pressure on me,” the governor said. “But I told them that only two people can authorise me to change my party — one is the God of heaven, and the other is you, the people. Have you asked me to go anywhere?”
The crowd reportedly replied, “No.”
His comments come weeks after APC leaders in Plateau dismissed reports that Mutfwang was planning to join their party.
At a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Jos, APC members rejected a motion proposing his defection. The motion, moved by Festus Fuanter, a former deputy national secretary of the APC, was struck down by a voice vote.
“We don’t want anybody coming to our party. You do your thing, and we’ll do ours,” Fuanter said, adding that the party was confident of its strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting, Mutfwang said those rejecting his rumoured defection were acting out of fear.
“So, those who are rejecting me for what I didn’t even ask for are wasting their time,” he said. “The truth is that 60 to 70 percent of the people in the APC in Plateau would be happy to have us join them. They know I will not do that — and that’s why they’re angry and twisting things.”
He added that he would not dwell on the issue, describing it as “a story for another day.”
Since the 2023 elections, the PDP has lost several governors to the APC, including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Peter Mbah of Enugu. Duoye Diri of Bayelsa has also resigned from the PDP and is reportedly on his way to the ruling party.
