President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has formally welcomed Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the defection as a significant boost to national unity, stability and development.
Speaking at a grand reception in Jos organised to mark Mutfwang’s official entry into the party, the President praised the governor’s leadership style and commitment to peace, development and reconciliation in Plateau State. He described Mutfwang as a unifying leader whose decision to join the APC aligns with a shared national purpose and collective progress.
Tinubu recalled Plateau State’s historical contributions to Nigeria’s unity, citing the role of past leaders such as General Yakubu Gowon, and noted that the state’s legacy of service continues to inspire efforts toward national cohesion.
Reaffirming his administration’s resolve to tackle insecurity, the President announced the approval of a major security intervention for Plateau State, including plans to recruit 1,000 youths as forest guards to enhance security in rural and forested areas. He also assured residents that the long-awaited Akwanga–Jos Road project would soon commence, describing the highway as critical to economic growth and regional connectivity.
The President urged the people of Plateau to embrace unity and collective purpose, quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who said that people must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
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The event drew prominent APC leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who welcomed Mutfwang into the party and expressed optimism that the defection would usher in renewed peace, progress and prosperity in Plateau State. Akpabio also paid tribute to former governor Simon Lalong for his role in strengthening the APC in the state.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the governor’s decision as a welcome development and urged party members to shun divisive tendencies in favour of unity. The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party was fulfilled to receive Mutfwang, noting that despite past political rivalry, renewed unity would accelerate development and strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his response after receiving the APC flag and broom, Governor Mutfwang explained that his decision to defect was motivated by the need to deepen collaboration with the Federal Government and improve access to national support for Plateau State. He stressed that the move was not aimed at taking over the party’s structure but at repositioning the state for development and national relevance.
The governor further disclosed that President Tinubu had personally invited him on several occasions to join the APC, invitations he said he initially declined out of loyalty to his former party. Speaking later during a meeting with political appointees and stakeholders at the Government House in Jos, Mutfwang said his eventual decision was informed by respect for the President and the broader interests of Plateau State.
He noted that while Plateau PDP remained stable at the state level, persistent structural challenges at the national level posed serious risks to the mandate given to him by the people. According to him, remaining in the party under such conditions could expose the state to political uncertainty and instability.
Mutfwang acknowledged past tensions with the APC in Plateau but praised the Tinubu administration for its cordial relationship with his government, expressing optimism that the defection would open new opportunities for appointments and development initiatives that would benefit the state.
