The North-Central APC Forum has ramped up pressure on Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has sparked fierce divisions within the state chapter of the ruling party.
This comes on the heels of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno’s recent defection, which has added momentum to the APC’s ongoing campaign to woo PDP governors ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Plateau, however, the campaign has turned controversial. Fears are growing among APC stakeholders that Mutfwang’s entry into the party could hand him automatic control of its state structure and the 2027 governorship ticket.
The crisis escalated after the Forum, led by Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, endorsed the “Green Cap Movement”, a signature symbol of Mutfwang’s political brand.
This endorsement triggered a backlash from some APC members, who labelled the move as “anti-party activity” and called for sanctions against Zazzaga.
They accused the Forum of undermining internal democracy and weakening the position of loyal APC leaders in the state.
But Zazzaga, defending the Forum’s actions in a statement from Abuja, claimed the move was backed by the party’s national leadership.
He dismissed the criticisms as distractions by “enemies of unity” and insisted that the APC must open its doors to politically strong figures like Mutfwang.
“The APC is not a personal estate. We need leaders like Governor Mutfwang to strengthen our chances in 2027,” he said.
Meanwhile, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Plateau, has openly questioned Zazzaga’s loyalty, accusing him of pushing a divisive agenda that threatens the party’s stability.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
