Tag: Mutfwang

Governor Caleb Mutfwang is at the centre of a political storm on the Plateau, as debates rage over his alleged plan to dump the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Correspondent KOLADE ADEYEMI reports

A political storm is raging in Plateau State as fresh allegations swirl that Governor Caleb Mutfwang is plotting to dump the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). What began as idle chatter has snowballed into a fierce war of words between rival factions — each spinning its own story about the governor’s next move and what it means for Plateau’s fragile political balance.

 In just two weeks, three groups — the APC in Plateau State, a self-styled PDP North Central Forum, and a camp of pro-Mutfwang loyalists — have issued conflicting statements, exposing deeper undercurrents within the state’s political landscape. Observers now describe the unfolding saga as a “defection dilemma,” not because Mutfwang has announced any move, but because his name has become a battlefield for competing interests and ambitions.

APC sparks controversy

 The spark came from the opposition. Acting Plateau APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Shittu Bamaiyi, released a statement accusing Governor Mutfwang of “living in self-denial” — torn, he claimed, between loyalty to his party and temptation from the ruling APC.

 “When the governor said pressure was being mounted on him to join us,” Bamaiyi quipped, “it became clear that something must have happened on the road to Damascus.”

 He challenged Mutfwang to name those behind the supposed pressure, suggesting that “it’s either the governor is economical with the truth or the naysayers are trying to be proactive.”

 The statement — part taunt, part provocation — reignited speculation that has shadowed Mutfwang since his inauguration: whispers that powerful figures are nudging him to cross over to the APC. For the opposition, the timing was strategic — a jab designed to keep Plateau’s politics simmering as the 2027 race looms on the horizon.

  Mutfwang’s firm denial

 At a dinner meeting with PDP leaders in Jos, Governor Mutfwang sought to end the speculation once and for all. Calm but emphatic, he told his audience that while “attempts have been made” to lure him into the APC, he had “refused to bow to their pressures.”

 “My political journey is divinely guided by God and anchored on the will of the Plateau people,” he said, drawing applause from party loyalists. “Only two people can authorise me to change my party — the God of heaven and the people.”

 Mutfwang dismissed the rumours as politically motivated, insisting that the APC’s supposed resistance was a façade. “Sixty to seventy per cent of APC members in this state would be glad to have us,” he declared. “But they know I won’t join them.”

 For the governor, it was meant to draw a firm line under the matter. Yet in Plateau’s charged atmosphere, his words only deepened the intrigue. Supporters hailed his loyalty; critics saw a man protesting too much. 

PDP North Central Forum steps in

 Days later, a group claiming to represent the PDP in the North Central zone threw a fresh grenade into the debate.

 Under the banner of the PDP North Central Forum, the group alleged that Mutfwang was already making secret overtures to the APC. Its chairman, Jonah Davou Dang, claimed to have “credible intelligence” that the governor was “actively lobbying to defect while still occupying a PDP mandate.”

 The forum went further, alleging that “over one billion naira of state funds may have been deployed to lobby for acceptance into the ruling party.” Dang described it as “a grave betrayal of the trust reposed in the governor by the good people of Plateau State.”

 “If Mutfwang feels that the PDP no longer aligns with his aspirations,” he added, “the honourable path is clear — he should resign rather than undermining the party from within.”

 The statement went viral, fueling outrage within the PDP and giving the APC fresh ammunition.

Counterattack from loyalists

 Barely a day later, Comrade Benjamin Na’anfen Dashilip, better known as Freeman Dashilip, fired back. In a passionate rejoinder, he dismissed the forum’s claims as “false, malicious, and politically motivated.”

 “The so-called PDP North Central Forum is a ghost structure,” he declared. “It’s the invention of a few toxic APC sympathisers who want to blackmail Governor Mutfwang and undermine the Plateau PDP.”

Dashilip challenged Dang to prove his identity and legitimacy. “Until such proof is presented, their claims remain malicious propaganda aimed at deceiving the public,” he said.

Read Also: Okowa lauds Urhobos’ contribution to Nigeria’s devt. 

 He urged citizens to ignore the “fabricated distraction,” insisting that the Plateau PDP remains “united, transparent, and focused on good governance.”

 For loyalists like Dashilip, the entire controversy is nothing more than “an interloping intrusion orchestrated by desperate political forces seeking relevance through deceit.”

 Divided narrative

 The conflicting statements have polarised Plateau’s political space. To the APC, the uproar reveals cracks within the PDP; to Mutfwang’s supporters, it’s a deliberate media war meant to rattle the government.

 A senior PDP official in Jos, speaking anonymously, described it as “an orchestrated attempt to destabilise the governor by creating a perception of disloyalty.”

 But others see something deeper. A University of Jos lecturer who is familiar with political behaviour noted that “the fact that a group could emerge under the PDP name and accuse a sitting governor of betrayal shows weakness in internal party communication. It also signals that the battle for 2027 is already beginning quietly.” 

The larger political picture

 Plateau’s politics has long been shaped by shifting alliances and last-minute defections. Over the past decade, major politicians have crossed from one camp to another, often ahead of election cycles.

 Analysts say the Mutfwang saga fits this pattern — part of a broader national strategy by the APC to consolidate control in opposition states.

 “In Nigerian politics, rumours of defection are rarely random,” said political commentator Dr Othman Gado. “They often signal calculations behind the scenes. But in this case, there is still no concrete sign that the governor has made such a decision.”

 According to Gado, “the back-and-forth has become a narrative tug-of-war — one side portraying Mutfwang as unstable, the other defending him as loyal and divinely guided.”

Public reaction and governance concerns

 Among ordinary citizens, patience is wearing thin.

 “What we want is governance,” said a civil society leader in Jos. “These endless rumours don’t fix roads or put food on the table. The governor should focus on service delivery and let politicians trade words.”

 Others, however, see the storm as a test of Mutfwang’s political composure. “If he stays calm and focused on development, he could turn this to his advantage,” noted a youth leader from Barkin Ladi. “It’ll show he’s not easily distracted.”

 Test of political maturity

 For now, the storm over Mutfwang’s loyalty shows no sign of clearing. Each new statement only stirs fresh winds of speculation, turning Plateau’s politics into a theatre of shifting loyalties and strategic silence. Whether the governor weathers the tempest or gets swept up in it will depend on how he balances faith, ambition, and governance in the months ahead. But for citizens on the Plateau, the real question remains unchanged: who will steady the ship when the storm finally passes?