Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State have rejected any speculated or potential move by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to join their party from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Mutfwang, a prominent PDP figure, has repeatedly dismissed rumours of defection to the APC, reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP until the next general election.

However, with two of his colleagues, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, resigning from the PDP last week to join the APC, and reports suggesting Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas may follow, speculations have intensified that Mutfwang and other PDP governors in the North may also dump their party for the ruling APC.

At an APC stakeholders’ meeting held at Crest Hotel, Jos, on Friday, party executives and members resolved that they would not accept any move by Governor Mutfwang to join their ranks.

The Plateau APC’s position mirrored a similar development in Osun State, where the party reportedly blocked Governor Ademola Adeleke, who faces re-election next year, from joining after months of consultations that saw some of the state’s federal lawmakers defect ahead of him.

The Plateau meeting was attended by the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, former Governor and party leader in the state Senator Simon Bako Lalong, former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, former Governor Joshua Dariye, former Minister Dame Pauline Tallen, Managing Director/CEO of the North Central Development Commission, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, serving and former lawmakers, and hundreds of party faithful.

Announcing the resolution, Yilwatda, who contested the 2023 governorship election against Mutfwang, called on a former Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Barrister Festus Fuanter, to move a motion on the issue. “Let me ask Hon. Festus Fuanter, who shares my sentiment, to lead us in moving a motion,” he said.

Moving the motion, Fuanter asked members whether they would accept Mutfwang’s entry into the APC. The proposal was unanimously rejected through a voice vote.

Fuanter later said: “We don’t want anybody coming to our party. You do your thing, and we’ll do ours. Having put that behind us, I want the media to make it very clear that we are unanimous in our resolve to win the 2027 elections decisively. We don’t need support from any other party. If their campaign director and other defectors are already here, we have nothing to fear. We have people from all zones in the state, and APC is a winning team.”

Mutfwang camp dismisses rejection claim

However, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Mutfwang, Gyang Bere, has denied any plan by the governor to join the APC, stressing that the governor has the capacity to win the 2027 election without switching parties.

In a chat with our correspondent, Bere said, “To whom did the governor make an attempt to join them? Who among the APC members did Mutfwang approach to join the party? As far as I’m concerned, I learned that they made a comment that Mutfwang is sitting on a stolen mandate. During the 2023 election, how many members of the House of Assembly did the APC have? How many members of the National Assembly do they have?

“As far as we are concerned, the people of Plateau State are with Governor Mutfwang. They believe in him because he has restored confidence and governance in the state. There’s no local government or senatorial zone in Plateau where the governor’s footprints are not seen.

“We know very well that the people of Plateau are with Governor Mutfwang, and he has made it clear that his political movement is determined by God and the people of Plateau State. So, we don’t want to join issues with anybody. The governor knows what he’s doing and remains with the people of Plateau. He holds them in high esteem and is very assured of victory in 2027. There’s no one that can overturn what God has planned for Governor Mutfwang ahead of the 2027 election,” Bere added.

Also reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State denied any plan by Governor Mutfwang to defect, describing the claim as baseless.

The party’s Southern Zonal Chairman, Hon. Simon Domle, told Daily Trust that “Governor Mutfwang has never attempted and will never attempt to decamp to the APC because there’s nothing to gain there. Mutfwang doesn’t need to join the APC to win elections. The governor didn’t seek acceptance into the APC, let alone being rejected.

“APC as a party is just a vehicle standing on a flat tyre in Plateau State. If a vehicle is standing on a flat tyre and you are driving it, the vehicle is not going anywhere. That vehicle will soon be condemned because the tyre cannot carry you, and it will make a lot of noise.

“What is the sense in saying a sitting governor who won his election legitimately has been rejected by another party? As far as this governor is concerned, a performing governor, he is not even listening to the noise the APC is making. It’s an empty claim that will not happen. Plateau has PDP as its political inheritance. The governor is not moving anywhere.”

Northern Christians decide to vote Tinubu in 2027 — Nentawe

Speaking at the stakeholders meeting, Nentawe disclosed that Christian communities in northern Nigeria have resolved to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Nentawe said northern Christians now believe the president has addressed their fears of marginalization, despite initial concerns over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

He said: “During President Tinubu’s visit to Plateau, he met with Christian leaders. They told the president that although they initially feared marginalization because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, he has proved them wrong. They said they prefer to stand with him this time around.”

According to Nentawe, Plateau and other states have no reason to reject President Tinubu, given his performance over the past two years. “I am not ashamed to go on radio, TV, or any other media platform to talk about President Tinubu because he has done well for this country. We have reasons to support him for a second term. He has given voices to minorities. Plateau today has a voice,” he said.

He said the president deserves a second term for reviving the economy and putting the nation on the path of progress. He added that the president holds Plateau and the APC family in high esteem and that the party is growing stronger daily. He also disclosed that the APC government would soon unveil a “world-best empowerment programme” for youths, women, and other groups nationwide.

Subsequently, the APC in Plateau State unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. This followed a similar gesture from the party leaders in Kogi and Kaduna states at the weekend.

The endorsement, which mirrored a similar trajectory taken by the party’s national leadership earlier in the year, was conducted by Fuanter who moved the motion for Tinubu’s endorsement as the sole candidate for 2027, seconded by State APC Woman Leader Hon. Alice Dimlong. The motion received overwhelming support.

Party leader, Senator Simon Bako Lalong welcomed the decision, saying the president deserves another term for his commitment to Nigerians and his inclusion of Plateau in national governance. He noted that Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshewe as APC National Chairman was “a great blessing to Plateau,” symbolizing access to development and opportunities for the people.

Lalong said Plateau APC is now united, with all factions reconciled and members who earlier left the party returning. He added that new members from other political parties, including those in the current state government, have joined the APC.

Shettima to receive defectors October 30

The APC National Chairman also announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima will visit Plateau State on October 30 to formally receive defectors from other political parties into the APC.

Nentawe said: “I have spoken with the vice president and other APC governors. They have all agreed to attend the reception of the defectors. All preparations for the event have been completed.”

He further disclosed that more prominent figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the PDP across the country would soon defect to the APC.

“Our party is healthy, no viral attack. We are receiving members from the ADC and PDP. More senators and governors are coming. If you leave the APC, you are deceiving yourself. Don’t be deceived to leave the party. Think twice. All who decamp to the APC will enjoy equal opportunities with old members. They will be given positions, and no one will be left behind. We have the capacity to win elections,” Nentawe added. (Daily Trust)