2027: How Tinubu persuaded me to join APC — Mutfwang

Plateau Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has revealed how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu persuaded him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mutfwang made the disclosure on Thursday shortly after his official defection to the APC.

Speaking during a meeting with political appointees and stakeholders at the Government House in Jos, the governor said he initially declined the President’s overtures out of loyalty to his political convictions.

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“I pay my respects to President Tinubu for honouring our earlier decisions not to move to the APC and still maintaining a cordial relationship with us despite that,” he said.

The governor revealed that aside from President Tinubu, several influential figures, including APC governors, had also attempted to persuade him to defect, but he remained in the PDP until recent developments forced a reassessment.

According to Mutfwang, his decision to leave the PDP was primarily influenced by unresolved structural and leadership crises at the party’s national level.

“Until recently, when it became clear that the PDP at the national level has undeniable problems with its structure, the need to decamp to another party was already quieted,” he said.

“We have zero challenges at the state level, but all our efforts are vain without a solid structure at the national level.”

He noted that the risks associated with remaining in the PDP had become too significant to ignore.

“The risks involved in staying back in the PDP are too high for us to carelessly gamble with the mandate Plateau people gave us,” Mutfwang stated.

“No one can tell reassuringly when and how the crisis will end, or what wins or losses could be incurred.”

The governor said his administration could not afford to expose Plateau State to another round of political instability, recalling the emotional strain residents had endured in the past.

“Bearing in mind the emotional torture our dear people went through, we can’t, by our actions or inactions, subject ourselves to another experience like that,” he said.

Drawing from past political experience, Mutfwang observed that electoral victory alone was insufficient.

“History has taught me that it is one thing to be voted massively, and another to make sure the votes count,” he added.

He insisted that his decision was not driven by personal ambition but by respect for President Tinubu and the manner in which the federal government had related with Plateau State.

“Although we’ve had our issues with Plateau APC, we can’t deny the favour and cordiality with which the Tinubu-led administration has related with us,” he said.

Mutfwang further argued that joining the APC would position Plateau State to benefit more from the Federal Government.

“We have a chance to attract and be entitled to so many good things, from appointments to favours that will richly impact Plateau. Is it really wisdom to forfeit all that? No!” He said.

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