As the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) reposition ahead of the 2027 general election in Plateau State, indications are that voter sentiment, grassroots mobilisation, and governance performance may emerge as key determinants of the contest. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI and Correspondent KOLADE ADEYEMI give an overview of the looming battle.
As Plateau State crosses the halfway point of its current electoral cycle, the 2027 contest for its political soul is fast becoming the epicentre of grassroots agitation, elite calculations, and shifting alliances. The two dominant political parties—the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)—are realigning and recalibrating their strategies, each intent on tipping the balance in what is shaping up to be one of the fiercest electoral face-offs in the state’s history.
Since the return to civil rule in 1999, Plateau State has been a revolving door for these two major parties, each taking turns to govern and dominate the political scene. However, the 2023 general election introduced a unique split in governance. While the PDP captured the governorship seat through Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the APC clinched the majority in both the State House of Assembly and National Assembly, including Senate and House of Representatives seats.
This political duality—an APC-led legislature and PDP-led executive—has defined the last two years and will shape the next two leading up to 2027. The key question on the minds of observers, stakeholders, and voters alike is, who gains the upper hand?
A complex voter mood
An analysis of the 2023 general election in Plateau State shows that the contest produced one of the most intriguing outcomes in the state’s democratic history. It was essentially a two-horse race between the PDP’s Mutfwang and the APC’s Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Mutfwang rode a wave of discontent, particularly in rural and youth-populated constituencies like Bokkos, Langtang North, and Mangu, where the APC was perceived as underperforming in delivering infrastructure and tackling insecurity. Analysts interpreted his victory as a rejection of the APC’s executive leadership and a vote of confidence in Mutfwang’s “people-first” campaign narrative.
Ibrahim Pam, a 29-year-old voter from Barkin Ladi, said, “In my area, we voted for the PDP for governor because we were tired of promises without action. However, some of us decided to vote for the APC in the National Assembly contest because we still trusted our representative. It wasn’t about the party—it was about who listens.”
However, the results of the elections for federal and state legislative seats told a different story. The APC won all three senatorial seats: Plateau North, Plateau Central, and Plateau South. In addition, it secured a majority in the House of Representatives, winning five out of the eight federal constituencies, and captured most of the seats in the Plateau State House of Assembly.
This split decision reflected a complex political mood—a demand for new executive leadership but continued legislative trust in the APC’s experience and structure. It also set the tone for an uneasy coexistence between the two major parties, leading to intensified behind-the-scenes manoeuvring for 2027.
Governing amid growing pains
This state of affairs has put the PDP under pressure in governing the state, as the majority of the lawmakers representing the state at the federal and state levels belong to the ruling party at the centre.
Nevertheless, as the party currently in control of the executive arm of Plateau’s government, the PDP is expected to have a natural advantage heading into the next election.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who marked two years in office this May, is credited with introducing people-oriented policies, revitalising infrastructure, and instituting administrative reforms. On the surface, the PDP appears to be doing reasonably well. Yet beneath this progress lie internal unrest, leadership disaffection, and a wave of high-profile defections that could jeopardise the party’s grip on power.
Cracks in the PDP
One of the most alarming signs for the PDP is the departure of powerful party leaders who were instrumental in its return to power in 2023. Among the defectors is Hon. Latep Dabang, former Director-General of the Atiku/Mutfwang Campaign Organisation. His departure was not just symbolic but also strategic. As one insider put it, “Dabang’s exit created a vacuum in party mobilisation that is difficult to fill.”
Another defector, Senator Istifanus Gyang, who represented Plateau North, lamented the PDP’s internal decay upon his exit. “The party has parted ways with basic democratic tenets,” Gyang said. “It lacks the leverage to promote Plateau State’s strategic interests. There is no equity, fairness, inclusivity, or good governance.”
Bitrus Kaze, a former member of the House of Representatives, also walked away, citing persistent marginalisation. “Despite my long-standing loyalty and service, the party’s leadership continued to sideline me,” he said.
Several other influential PDP figures who lost their re-election bids in 2023 are reportedly sitting on the fence—politically disengaged but watching closely. Names like Hon. Beni Lar, Hon. Timothy Golu, and Hon. Isaac Kwalu are still contemplating their future in the party.
“The truth remains that if those who have already left the party and those about to leave are not convinced to return to the fold before 2027, the PDP will certainly struggle to get a second term,” said a party insider.
The governor’s dilemma
A key dilemma facing Governor Mutfwang is whether to concentrate on development or focus on patronage. His administration has earned applause for prioritising infrastructure and reforms over political appeasement.
However, that very choice has alienated influential stakeholders who expected recognition and appointments in return for their loyalty during the campaign. A close aide to one of the defected lawmakers explained, “Most of the grievances stem from the governor’s refusal to fund political patronage. Instead, he’s focused on tangible development, but that’s not how politics works here.”
Still, Mutfwang retains support from several quarters. During a recent stakeholders’ engagement in Mista-Ali village, Pengana Constituency, Bassa Local Government Area—one of the more politically vocal parts of the northern zone—party members reaffirmed their loyalty and even endorsed him for a second term.
Sunday Chapa, the state PDP ex-officio, said, “We trust Governor Mutfwang, particularly because he resisted the pressure to abandon his people and join the APC. At the height of that pressure, the governor met with us and assured us that he would not leave the PDP.”
APC: Rebuilding from Strength
Despite losing the governorship in 2023, the APC is confident of staging a full comeback in 2027. With control of the National Assembly seats and a majority in the Plateau State House of Assembly, the party is retooling its campaign machinery and absorbing defectors at an unprecedented pace.
The Plateau APC Chairman, Rufus Bature, said the party’s prospects have never been brighter.
“From all indications, the chance of APC staging a comeback to power in 2027 is brighter. Every day, you hear leaders of other political parties moving into the APC. This is because the APC remains the only political party trusted by the people,” he said.
He added that the PDP’s internal collapse is working in the APC’s favour. “Remember, in 2023, the party only lost the governorship seat but won all other offices. Based on party structure, no other party can win in 2027 besides the APC.”
A boost from Abuja
The emergence of Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda—the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate—as the National Chairman of the APC has significantly raised the party’s visibility and credibility. With access to federal resources, analysts suggest that Yilwatda is now better positioned to influence voters and build patronage networks on the Plateau.
“Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda now occupies a strategic position. Though he is unlikely to appear on the governorship ballot in 2027, his elevation to the top of the party’s national structure grants him considerable influence over campaign strategy, candidate selection, and federal support flows,” said a political analyst based in Jos.
That sentiment is echoed by APC insiders who claim the PDP governor is underperforming despite increased federal allocations. “With the resources available to Gov. Mutfwang, his performance is below average,” Bature said. “States with fewer resources have done better.”
Still, the APC must tread carefully. The influx of former PDP chieftains into its fold may trigger internal battles over candidacy slots, ticket allocation, and party leadership.
Candidate dynamics and power shifts
With Dr. Yilwatda’s elevation to the position of APC National Chairman, the likelihood of a direct rematch with Governor Mutfwang has effectively vanished. Until last Thursday (July 24), Dr. Yilwatda was the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. Now, his influence on the 2027 Plateau governorship race may prove even more decisive.
As national chairman, Yilwatda will be central to the APC’s candidate selection process, campaign coordination, and federal alignment—factors that could significantly enhance the party’s chances of reclaiming the governorship.
Analysts insist that his grasp of Plateau’s political terrain, combined with his strengthened national platform, gives him the leverage to shape the APC’s state strategy more effectively than any other figure in the party. “He doesn’t need to be on the ballot to determine the outcome,” a party insider remarked.
Despite the APC’s growing influence and its control of federal might, it still has a mountain to climb in the Plateau contest. Though internal dissent has weakened the PDP, Governor Mutfwang retains the advantages of incumbency, including visibility, control of state structures, and a reform-focused record.
The role of smaller parties
Though new entrants, such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party (LP), are working to carve a niche for themselves—particularly in Jos North and parts of Mikang—neither has yet demonstrated the grassroots capacity to mount a credible challenge.
APC Chairman Bature dismissed the idea outright: “A coalition has never worked on the Plateau. I see the ADC as an assembly of like-minded individuals who have ambition and are looking for an opportunity to be recognised as politicians. I don’t see them making much impact in 2027.”
The PDP’s Chris Hassan countered, “One thousand political parties can contest the Plateau governorship in 2027, but no one can match the performance of Gov. Mutfwang. There is no hindrance to the victory of Gov. Mutfwang and the PDP come 2027.”
Conclusion
If there is one consistent theme in Plateau politics, it is that voters are driven by performance and personality, not party loyalty. In 2023, the people showed their willingness to vote for different parties at different levels. That trend is expected to continue in 2027.
With two years to go, the APC and the PDP are neck and neck in what promises to be a defining election in Plateau State. Both have significant strengths and notable weaknesses.
For the APC, the goal is to rebuild trust and offer a fresh candidate with the credibility of federal backing. For the PDP, the challenge is to hold together its remaining support base, reconnect with the grassroots, and bank on Mutfwang’s performance.
Ultimately, the 2027 general election on the Plateau will not be won in Abuja or Little Rayfield—it will be won in Bokkos, Pankshin, Riyom, Qua’an Pan, Shendam, Langtang, and the urban sprawl of Jos. With Plateau’s politically literate and regionally conscious electorate, only time and visible performance across its diverse communities will tell who tips the balance.
