By Israel Adamu, Jos
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has condemned the Plateau APC protest staged in Jos on Saturday by members opposed to Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The protest occurred during an event organised to receive new defectors into the APC, where some participants displayed placards declaring that the Plateau governor should not be admitted into the party.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued in Abuja, the North-Central APC Forum described the protest as undemocratic. The statement, signed by the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, argued that no individual or group has the constitutional authority to prevent any Nigerian, including a sitting governor, from joining a political party of their choice.
Zazzaga insisted that welcoming Governor Mutfwang into the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections would strengthen the party’s chances in Plateau State. He urged President Bola Tinubu to call Plateau APC leaders opposed to the move to order.
According to the Forum, those blocking the governor’s defection are acting out of personal political ambitions rather than the party’s collective interest.
“These leaders are resisting Governor Mutfwang because they want to contest in 2027, but we know none of them can defeat him in an election, regardless of the platform,” the statement read.
The Forum warned that if the opposition within the Plateau chapter continued, it would escalate the matter by formally reporting the individuals involved to President Tinubu. It also called on the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum to intervene and facilitate Mutfwang’s acceptance into the APC.
Zazzaga said bringing the governor into the party aligns with the Forum’s pledge to mobilize six million votes for President Tinubu in 2027.
He added that resistance to Mutfwang’s defection undermines this goal.
“These people are political amateurs. Their actions suggest they do not want the APC to deliver six million votes to Mr President,”* the statement added.
The Forum also accused some Plateau APC leaders of previously rejecting Mutfwang at an October 2025 stakeholders’ meeting, which passed a motion against admitting the governor. It argued that many of those who supported the resolution lacked electoral value, noting that several did not win their polling units during the last election.
Zazzaga further alleged that some of these individuals are currently lobbying for federal appointments despite having delivered poor results for the party in past elections.
He cited the APC’s former governorship running mate in Plateau State, who reportedly lost both his polling unit and ward to the PDP in 2023, yet is among those resisting Mutfwang’s entry.
“The real question is who can win the governorship seat for the APC? Most of those opposing Mutfwang cannot win their polling units,” the statement continued.
“We want to build a stronger party structure capable of winning Plateau State for President Tinubu. Interests come after election victory, not before.”
The Forum reiterated that its campaign encouraging Governor Mutfwang to defect to the APC has the backing of influential figures within the Presidency.
