Former Plateau State Governor and senator, Jonah David Jang, has insisted that Governor Caleb Mutfwang remains a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor despite his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that only a fresh mandate in 2027 can change that status.
Jang, a prominent PDP elder in the state, made the assertion on Friday while addressing party stakeholders at a press conference in Jos. He argued that Mutfwang’s authority to govern was secured on the platform of the PDP and, as such, cannot be rebranded by political realignment outside the ballot box.
According to the former governor, the mandate currently being exercised by Mutfwang belongs to the PDP and the people who voted for the party, not the APC. He cautioned against addressing the governor as an APC leader until he secures a new mandate under that platform in the next general election.
“Governor Caleb Mutfwang remains a PDP governor. It is only when the APC gives him its own mandate in 2027 that he can cease to be one,” Jang said, underscoring what he described as the primacy of electoral legitimacy over political convenience.
Beyond the immediate Plateau situation, Jang raised concerns over the growing wave of defections by politicians across party lines, warning that the trend poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic fabric. He described the drift towards political convergence under one dominant party as a dangerous development capable of sliding the country into a one-party state.
The former senator maintained that the PDP remains Nigeria’s most enduring political institution, citing its historical resilience, national spread and institutional depth since its formation in 1998. He said the party has played a central role in sustaining democratic governance since 1999 and in nurturing leadership at various levels.
Jang urged PDP leaders and members in Plateau State to remain focused on the collective interest of the people rather than personal political calculations. He stressed that strong, principled political parties are essential to democratic stability and must be defended against erosion driven by opportunism.
