PDP raises red flag over APC’s claim of Mutfwang’s defection

…insists Mutfwang remains member despite APC defection claim in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State has dismissed claims that Governor Caleb Mutfwang has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the party has not received any formal resignation from him.

The party maintained that without official documentation, the governor remains a bona fide member of the PDP.

Speaking in an interview with BusinessDay on Tuesday in Jos, Felix Choji, the Plateau State PDP spokesperson said the party operates strictly within its constitutional framework and cannot rely on public statements or media reports to determine a member’s status.

The controversy followed an announcement by Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the APC who declared Mutfwang’s defection in Abuja about two weeks ago during an APC stakeholders’ meeting.

The announcement sparked widespread political debate across Plateau State and beyond.

Read also: APC confirms Mutfwang’s defection, unveils plans for grand reception

However, Choji said the PDP has not been officially informed of any such move. “We have not received, either through him or any of his aides, any letter of resignation. Not at the ward level, not at the local government, not at the zonal level, and not even at the state level”; he said.

He explained that the absence of formal notification means the governor’s name remains on the party’s membership database.

“As far as the party is concerned, we have no document to show that he has left the PDP. Therefore, he remains a bona fide and active member of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Choji stated.

The PDP spokesperson also pointed to visible symbols of party affiliation as further indication that Mutfwang has not formally defected. He noted that the PDP flag is still flying at the Government House and is displayed on the governor’s official vehicle.

Choji argued that past defections from the party were handled differently, with clear resignation letters submitted and widely circulated. According to him, no such correspondence exists in Mutfwang’s case, making the APC’s claim procedurally questionable.

On whether the alleged defection amounts to anti-party activity, the PDP spokesman urged caution, stressing that the party would not act based on speculation or third-party claims.

The development has generated mixed reactions among political stakeholders in Plateau State, with some interpreting the APC’s announcement as a political strategy, while others see the PDP’s stance as a test of party discipline and internal order.

As the situation unfolds, the PDP insists that only a written resignation can alter Governor Mutfwang’s political status within the party, even as the APC continues to project him as its newest high-profile entrant.

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states.

He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.

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