Political tension is escalating in Plateau State following a major defection, with a senior figure demanding the governor step down immediately. Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah David Jang, has issued a direct and forceful challenge to the incumbent Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, calling for his resignation from office.
A Mandate Called Into Question
This dramatic demand stems from Governor Mutfwang's recent decision to abandon the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the platform upon which he was elected, and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made on January 11, 2026, sparking immediate controversy. Mutfwang justified his move by stating his intention to find a party that would enable him to deliver "purposeful leadership" to the people of Plateau.
However, Jonah Jang, a respected chieftain of the PDP, has strongly rejected this rationale. Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting of the PDP in Jos, Plateau State, Jang argued that the governor's defection constitutes a betrayal of the electoral mandate given to him by the people under the PDP banner.
"Resign and Recontest" - The Democratic Principle
Jang was unequivocal in his position. He stated that Governor Mutfwang has no moral or democratic right to continue in office after switching parties. "I don't know where we got this idea of carrying people's mandate without even thinking twice about it to other areas," Jang declared, as reported by Daily Trust.
He laid out what he believes is the only acceptable path forward: "You should first resign that position, call for a fresh election and then you can recontest in the new party. That should be the right democracy." This call underscores a growing debate in Nigerian politics about the ethics of defection, especially by sitting executives and legislators who were elected on a specific party's ticket.
Jang further criticized the broader Nigerian political system for enabling what he sees as the indiscriminate and self-serving movement of elected officials from one party to another. He warned that such behavior has a corrosive effect, undermining the integrity of the democratic process and eroding public trust.
Rumours and Realignments in Plateau Politics
The political atmosphere in Plateau is further charged by defection rumours involving Jang himself. The former governor took the opportunity to firmly dismiss any speculation that he is planning to follow Mutfwang to the APC. He attributed such talk to the work of detractors aiming to sow "confusion, tension, and mistrust" within the state's political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Mutfwang's move is triggering a wave of political realignment. Legit.ng reports that a former member of the House of Representatives representing Plateau, Dachung Bagos, has also officially defected from the PDP to the APC. Bagos pledged his support for President Bola Tinubu, Governor Mutfwang, and the APC's stance on critical issues like state police and local government autonomy.
This series of defections marks a significant shift in the political dynamics of Plateau State, setting the stage for intense political maneuvering and potential constitutional debates about the validity of holding an executive mandate after crossing the aisle.
