𝐍’𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐏𝐂 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭

The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has denounced a protest by some Plateau APC members in Jos who opposed the rumoured defection of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to the party.

The forum, which has been lobbying Mutfwang to join the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, described the protest as “undemocratic and unconstitutional”. During a reception held for new entrants into the party, a faction of the state APC displayed placards rejecting the governor’s possible move, worsening internal tensions.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the forum said no group had the right to prevent any Nigerian — including a sitting governor — from joining a political party. It reiterated its call for Mutfwang to defect, saying his entry would strengthen the APC and improve its 2027 prospects. Those resisting the move, it added, were driven by selfish political motives and lacked the capacity to defeat the governor in any election.

The forum appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and urged the Progressive Governors Forum Chairman, Simon Bako Lalong, to ensure Mutfwang is accommodated in the party. It said resistance to the governor’s entry undermines efforts to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election and contradicts its earlier pledge to deliver six million votes in 2027.

It also criticised Plateau APC leaders who previously attacked the forum for publicly courting Mutfwang, warning them to desist or risk being reported directly to the President. The group dismissed an October resolution by Plateau leaders rejecting Mutfwang’s defection, describing the meeting as unrepresentative. Zazzaga added that many of those opposing the governor failed to deliver their polling units in the last elections.

The forum insisted its campaign for Mutfwang’s defection is backed by influential stakeholders working to strengthen the APC ahead of 2027.