Our Correspondent | Politics
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, is set to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deepening internal crises within the opposition party and the need to align Plateau with the centre, according to his political adviser.
The governor’s Political Adviser, Mr Istifanus Nwansat, disclosed the development on Monday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said Muftwang’s decision followed an internal assessment of the political climate and the risks facing the PDP ahead of future electoral contests.
Nwansat described the PDP’s prolonged leadership and legal disputes as having weakened the party’s ability to function as a credible platform for politicians seeking stability and electoral viability.
“The crisis in the PDP has made the platform an unrealistic podium for serious political actors to contest elections,” he said. “From our assessment of all available options, we have concluded that the safest decision today, with the least risk factor, is to move into the APC.”
Beyond internal party challenges, Nwansat said the governor’s anticipated move was also informed by governance considerations and the desire to align Plateau State with President Bola Tinubu’s administration at the federal level.
He explained that Muftwang believes closer political alignment with the centre would better position the state to benefit from federal policies, programmes and interventions.
“The governor believes it is reasonable, as a leader, to move his people to align with the President,” Nwansat said. “Even as members of the PDP, we recognise and appreciate the efforts of Mr President in putting things right.”
Muftwang, who emerged governor in 2023 on the PDP platform, has faced a complex political environment in Plateau, a state with a long history of shifting party loyalties and strategic alignments with the federal government. Analysts note that governors in opposition parties have increasingly defected to the ruling party in recent years, often citing access to federal support and internal party instability.
The PDP has been embroiled in sustained internal crises over leadership, court rulings and factional disputes, developments that have weakened its cohesion and electoral outlook ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the governor has yet to make a formal public announcement, his aide’s comments strongly suggest that preparations are underway for a high-profile defection that could reshape Plateau’s political landscape and further strengthen the APC’s influence in the North-Central region.
Political observers say Muftwang’s move, if confirmed, would underscore the growing pressure on opposition figures to reassess their political platforms amid Nigeria’s evolving power dynamics.