By Israel Adamu, Jos
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has declared that the party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has no authority to block Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang from defecting to the APC.The Forum’s position comes amid growing disagreements within the Plateau APC over reported plans by Muftwang to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party.The controversy intensified after Plateau APC stakeholders, at an October 17, 2025 meeting, endorsed a motion moved by former Deputy National Secretary, Barrister Festus Fuanter, rejecting Muftwang’s potential defection.The Forum alleged that Yilwatda—who contested against Muftwang in the 2023 governorship election—is behind efforts to mobilise opposition against the governor’s entry into the party.In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, criticised the national chairman’s actions, describing them as a misuse of office and contrary to the APC constitution.
According to Zazzaga, only Muftwang’s ward in Mangu Local Government Area has the constitutional right to admit him into the APC.“The national chairman of the party has no role in determining whether Governor Caleb Muftwang can join the APC,” the statement said. “It is only his ward in Mangu that has the right to admit him. The national chairman should stop sponsoring groups to protest or issue statements against the governor. Such actions only bring embarrassment to the office he occupies.”
Zazzaga further alleged that Yilwatda’s opposition stems from political rivalry and his plan to contest the governorship again in 2027.He accused the national chairman of lacking the leadership capacity expected of his position and failing to earn the confidence of party members.“The national chairman needs to learn how to conduct himself as a political leader. Party members are not willing to identify with him because they know he lacks the capacity to lead,” he claimed.The Forum said Muftwang has yet to officially join the APC because he is still consulting, not because of resistance from Yilwatda’s camp.It added that the governor enjoys broad support across Plateau State, which would follow him into any political decision he makes.“
For over two years we have been trying to convince Muftwang to join the APC,” Zazzaga said. “He is still consulting, but Yilwatda has no right to stop him. The people of Plateau have embraced him because of his developmental efforts and commitment to protecting the state’s heritage.”The Forum insisted that attempts to block Muftwang violate the APC constitution and called on the party’s Mangu Ward chapter to publicly invite the governor to join.It also alleged that Yilwatda is attempting to intimidate members pushing for Muftwang’s defection, including threats to revoke their membership certificates.“His actions cannot stop the governor if he decides to join today,” the statement added. “The people of Plateau State know both of them, which is why they chose Muftwang over Yilwatda in 2023. Even the leaders Yilwatda believes are behind him are actually with Muftwang.”The Forum maintained that it would not be silenced and that it remains committed to welcoming Muftwang into the APC if he chooses to
