By: Ismaeel Aleem
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has rejected a controversial resolution by Plateau State APC leaders to bar Governor Caleb Mutfwang from defecting to the party, accusing them of prioritising personal gain over electoral victory.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, the forum, representing stakeholders from North-Central states, reiterated its urgent plea for Mutfwang to abandon the “drowning” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the APC ahead of the 2027 polls.
The rift stems from a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos on 17 October 2025, where Plateau APC elders unanimously endorsed a motion by former Deputy National Secretary Barrister Festus Fuanter to oppose Mutfwang’s potential entry.
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“I move the motion against accepting Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang joining the APC,” Fuanter declared, a stance that blindsided the North-Central forum.
Notably, the forum’s Plateau members were excluded from the gathering, which it branded a cabal of underperformers eyeing federal patronage under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Forum Chairman Saleh Zazzaga, a 2023 APC campaign council member, lambasted the resolution as driven by “selfish reasons” rather than party interests.
“It is not just about gathering to reject Governor Mutfwang.
“The real issue is who can win the governorship seat for the party?” he questioned in the statement shared with journalists in Abuja.
Zazzaga highlighted the irony: many “so-called stakeholders” failed to deliver their polling units in the 2023 elections yet now lead the charge against Mutfwang.
He singled out the APC’s gubernatorial running mate, who lost his ward decisively securing just 2,800 votes against the PDP’s 10,600 yet remains a vocal opponent.
“They did not vote for Tinubu; they voted for Peter Obi but now rush to Abuja for federal appointments,” Zazzaga charged.
In contrast, he praised APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as the sole Plateau figure to clinch his local government for Tinubu.
The forum defended its pro-Mutfwang stance, confirming pressure on the governor stems from influential Presidential Villa figures.
“We can confirm this because some influential figures in the Presidential Villa are behind our calls on him to come to the APC.
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“We will not relent until we convince him to do the right thing, in the best interest of Plateau State and also in his own interest,” the statement affirmed.
It urged rewards like appointments to hinge on proven electoral performance, vowing to publish polling unit results post-2027 to expose true loyalists.
