The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has rejected a resolution passed by leaders of the party in Plateau State against accepting Governor Caleb Mutfwang into the party.

The forum, comprising stakeholders from APC chapters across the North-Central states, said those resisting Mutfwang’s possible defection were acting out of selfish interest rather than for the good of the party.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Forum’s chairman and a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 elections, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, reaffirmed its call on Mutfwang to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, which it described as a “drowning party”.

The Plateau APC leaders, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos on October 17, 2025, had unanimously adopted a motion moved by former Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, opposing Mutfwang’s possible entry into the APC.

This development followed earlier calls by the North-Central APC Forum urging the governor to join the party.

Reacting to the Plateau leaders’ position, the Forum said its members in the state were not invited to the stakeholders’ meeting where the resolution was taken.

It claimed that many of those who passed the resolution failed to deliver their polling units for the APC in the last general election but were now lobbying for federal appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The Forum specifically noted that the APC governorship running mate in Plateau during the 2023 elections lost both his polling unit and ward to the PDP, but is now among those opposing Mutfwang’s defection.

“It is not just about gathering to reject Governor Caleb Mutfwang. The real issue is who can win the governorship seat for the party? Among those so-called stakeholders that gathered to reject him, only a few are genuine, capable members.

“For instance, in the previous election, the APC governorship running mate lost his polling unit and ward to the PDP. He got 2,800 votes in his ward, while the PDP got 10,600. Yet, he is among those opposing Mutfwang joining the party.

“Are these people that relevant or trustworthy? They did not vote for Tinubu — they voted for Peter Obi — but are now rushing to Abuja for appointments. It was only the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who won his local government for President Tinubu,” the statement read.

The Forum maintained that it is advocating for members who can add value to the party rather than those driven by personal gain.

“We are still calling on Governor Mutfwang to join the APC because of the crisis in the PDP. Those rejecting him cannot even win their polling units.

“We want to join hands to win Plateau State for Tinubu. It is not about personal interest now; only when you win elections can you talk about interests,” it added.

The Forum also suggested that appointments and other party rewards should be based on electoral performance.

“Those rushing to Abuja for federal appointments should first present their polling unit results. We promise President Bola Tinubu that after the next election, we will publish the results from each polling unit so he will know who is who,” the statement said.

The Plateau APC had earlier criticized Mutfwang after the governor said he was under pressure to join the APC.

The party dismissed his claim and challenged him to name those allegedly pressuring him.

However, the North-Central APC Forum maintained that Mutfwang’s claim was true, saying some influential figures in the Presidential Villa were backing their calls for him to join the party.

“It is true that Governor Mutfwang has been under pressure to join the APC. We can confirm this because some influential figures in the Presidential Villa are behind our calls for him to do so.

“We will not relent until we convince him to take this step in the best interest of Plateau State and himself,” the Forum stated. (The PUNCH)