By Israel Adamu, Jos
The North Central APC Forum has renewed its call for Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing emerging political developments ahead of the 2027 elections. The appeal was made on Thursday during the Forum’s third-quarter meeting in Jos, Plateau State.
Forum Chairman Saleh Mandung Zazzaga said the group was the first to urge the governor to join the APC, based on what he described as “political calculations and predictions” made before and after the 2023 general elections. He noted that many of those predictions are now materializing across the region.
Zazzaga explained that the Forum’s advocacy over the past year has contributed to several political outcomes, including the push for the establishment of the North Central Development Commission and the agitation for returning the APC national chairmanship position to the North Central from the Northwest. He added that the group has also championed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies and encouraged political leaders from other parties to join the APC.
“Among all our calls is the appeal for Governor Caleb Mutfwang to join the APC, and this has been ongoing since 2023,” Zazzaga said. “Many political groups are now seeing the same possibility, but we made the call first because of our political mobilization, grassroots engagement, and strategic assessments.”
He urged the governor to align his political movement with his administration’s mantra, “The Time Is Now,” and consider joining the ruling party. According to him, doing so would expand the governor’s influence and strengthen his administration’s development agenda.
Zazzaga described Governor Mutfwang as a “progressive leader” whose actions since assuming office reflect values consistent with APC governance. He argued that joining the APC would enable the governor to work more closely with President Tinubu, whom he said has shown genuine interest in the growth of Plateau State.
He further noted that most federal and state legislators from Plateau are currently in the APC, which he believes would create a stronger synergy between the executive and legislative arms to advance development and address security concerns.
“Governor Mutfwang will also be on the same platform as other North Central governors in the APC,” he added. “This alignment will allow them to jointly push for the region’s development and address challenges affecting their states.”
Zazzaga dismissed members of the APC who oppose the governor’s potential defection, saying they “do not understand political strategy” and are acting independently of the Forum’s broader objectives.
The Forum maintained that its appeal is based on long-term political assessments and the belief that Governor Mutfwang’s defection would benefit Plateau State ahead of the 2027 elections.
