Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the party announced on Thursday.
The defection was confirmed by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yelwata, at the party’s national caucus meeting held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
APC officials described the move as a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that it consolidates the party’s control of the North-Central geopolitical zone. With Mutfwang’s defection, the APC now governs all states in the region, according to party sources.
Speculation over the governor’s planned exit from the PDP had circulated for weeks, with sources close to him indicating that internal crises and factional disputes within the opposition party influenced his decision. His political adviser had earlier disclosed that Mutfwang was preparing to join the ruling party amid ongoing tensions in the PDP.
The development has drawn mixed reactions within Plateau State, where some APC stakeholders reportedly opposed his entry over concerns about internal power dynamics, while others argued that his defection would strengthen the party ahead of future elections.
The PDP has yet to issue an official response to Mutfwang’s defection. However, party insiders have previously attributed recent high-profile defections to leadership challenges and internal wrangling within the opposition.
Mutfwang’s move adds to a growing list of prominent PDP figures defecting to the APC, a trend analysts say signals broader political realignments ahead of the 2027 polls.
