The political landscape in Plateau State has been stirred by strong opposition from former elected officials against Governor Caleb Mutfwang's alleged intentions to cross over to the All Progressives Congress.
Former Councillors Take a Stand
During a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Jos on Monday, the immediate past elected Councillors Forum of Nigeria, Plateau State Chapter, firmly rejected any potential move by Governor Mutfwang to join the APC.
The forum's chairman, Hon. Dabit John Dashe, accompanied by secretary Hon. Choji Williams Musho, addressed what they described as a suspicious statement issued on November 18, 2025, by a group calling itself the Coalition of Concerned Former APC Councillors and Grassroots Mobilizers.
"We view this as a desperate attempt by the governor and his agents to smuggle him into the party through the back door," Dashe declared to journalists.
Questioning the Governor's Motives
The former councillors expressed confusion about Governor Mutfwang's sudden interest in joining APC, noting his previous consistent statements that there was no APC in Plateau State and his declaration of having no intention to join what he had called a collapsing party.
Dashe highlighted what he described as the Mutfwang administration's poor governance record, including suffering among citizens, homelessness, and job losses across the state.
The forum chairman specifically pointed to the government's disregard for over 4,000 Plateau youths and the controversial sacking of democratically elected chairmen and councillors from all 17 local government areas despite a Supreme Court judgment.
Call for APC Leadership Intervention
The former councillors made a direct appeal to the APC leadership at both national and state levels to reject any potential defection bid by Governor Mutfwang.
They specifically addressed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, State Chairman Rufus Bature, and the party's state leader Senator Simon Bako Lalong.
Dashe reminded party leaders of Governor Mutfwang's strong opposition during the 2023 presidential campaigns, particularly his criticism of the Muslim-Muslim ticket featuring Tinubu and Kashim Shettima.
"We still want to remind the governor that our party is still the Muslim-Muslim ticket he demonised in 2023. His desperation to join the APC raises suspicions about his motives," Dashe emphasized.
The forum chairman questioned what value Governor Mutfwang could bring to APC, given his track record and the party's strong presence in the state assembly.
Despite the strong opposition from the former councillors, the Governor's office had previously denied any defection plans through a statement from Dr. Gyang Bere, the Director of Press and Public Affairs, who exonerated the governor from plans to decamp to any party other than his current PDP.
