Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu personally invited him to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Speaking on Thursday in Jos shortly after announcing his defection, the governor said the decision followed months of consultations and deep personal reflection. According to him, the move was taken in the overall interest of Plateau State and not for personal advantage.

Mutfwang explained that President Tinubu had extended the invitation on several occasions in the past, but he had repeatedly declined. Despite those refusals, he said the President maintained a respectful and cordial relationship with him.

“I pay my respects to President Tinubu for honouring our earlier decision not to move to the APC and for still maintaining a warm relationship with us,” the governor said during a meeting with political appointees and stakeholders at the Government House in Jos.

Pressure from multiple quarters

The governor revealed that he also faced pressure from other prominent figures within the APC, including fellow governors, to defect. However, he stressed that he resisted those calls for a long time and remained committed to the PDP until recent developments changed the political calculation.

According to him, the turning point was the deepening crisis within the PDP at the national level, which he described as structural and unresolved.

“Until recently, when it became clear that the PDP at the national level has undeniable problems with its structure, the need to decamp was not even on the table,” Mutfwang said. “We have zero challenges at the state level, but all our efforts are meaningless without a solid and functional national structure.”

Concerns over mandate and stability

Mutfwang warned that remaining in the PDP under the current circumstances posed serious risks to the mandate given to him by the people of Plateau State.

“The risks involved in staying back in the PDP are too high for us to gamble carelessly with the mandate Plateau people entrusted to us,” he said. “No one can say with certainty when or how the crisis will end, or what losses we might incur along the way.”

He added that his administration could not afford to expose the state to another period of political uncertainty, especially after the emotional strain residents had experienced in the past.

“Bearing in mind the emotional torture our people went through, we cannot, by action or inaction, subject them to such an experience again,” the governor said.

Why APC was the final choice

The governor noted that while he could have moved to another political party, experience had taught him that winning elections alone was not enough without the backing of a strong national platform.

“History has shown us that it is one thing to be voted for massively and another to ensure those votes truly count,” he said.

Mutfwang acknowledged that his relationship with the Plateau APC had not always been smooth. However, he praised the Tinubu-led federal administration for what he described as fairness and goodwill toward his government.

“Despite our differences in the past, we cannot deny the cordiality and goodwill with which this administration has related with us,” he said. “The President did not attempt to force us into the APC when the PDP crisis was not yet at its worst. That level of respect made it reasonable for us to reconsider.”

He also hinted that the defection could open new opportunities for Plateau State, including federal appointments and other benefits that could positively impact development in the state.

“We now have the chance to attract and legitimately access opportunities that will benefit Plateau, from appointments to other forms of support,” Mutfwang said. “Is it wise to forfeit all that? I don’t think so. There is already good news coming. Stay tuned.”

Political implications

Political analysts say Mutfwang’s defection could reshape Plateau’s political landscape ahead of future elections, while also strengthening the APC’s influence in the North Central region. According to observers, the governor’s emphasis on stability and access to federal support reflects broader concerns among subnational leaders about aligning state priorities with national power structures.