Mutfwang: Yilwatda Is Disgracing APC, Lacks Leadership Capacity – North-Central Forum

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has declared that the party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has no constitutional right to stop Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang from defecting to the party.

The Forum has been openly campaigning for Mutfwang to dump the Peoples Democratic Party and join the APC. However, Plateau APC leaders, backed by the national chairman, are reportedly resisting the move.

Tension heightened after Plateau APC stakeholders, at an October 17, 2025 meeting, adopted a motion moved by former Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, rejecting Mutfwang’s possible entry into the party. The Forum, however, insists that Yilwatda is behind the move.

Forum Accuses Yilwatda of Personal Interest Ahead of 2027 Governorship Race

The Forum alleged that the APC national chairman is fearful of Mutfwang’s growing popularity and is trying to block his entry because he plans to recontest the Plateau governorship seat in 2027.

Yilwatda was the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election but lost to Mutfwang. According to the Forum, the defeat still shapes his political calculations.

In a statement on Tuesday, signed by the Forum’s chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the group said Yilwatda “does not understand the role of a party national chairman” and is embarrassing both himself and the APC.

‘Only Mutfwang’s Ward Has Power to Admit Him’ — Forum

Zazzaga insisted that only the APC chapter in Mutfwang’s Mangu Ward has the authority to admit him into the party.

“The national chairman of the party has no role to play in bringing Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the APC. It is only Mutfwang’s ward in Mangu that has the right to admit him as a member,” the statement read.

He accused Yilwatda of sponsoring protests and media campaigns to oppose Mutfwang’s move.

“He is disgracing himself and the party because this shows that he does not know the role of a party national chairman,” he said. “If Mutfwang joins APC today, automatically he becomes the leader of the party in Plateau State.”

‘Yilwatda Lacks Capacity to Lead the Party’

The Forum criticised Yilwatda’s leadership style, claiming he is not respected at public gatherings and lacks the political competence of his predecessors.

“The national chairman should try to learn how to conduct himself as a political leader. The party members are not willing to embrace him and identify with him because they know he lacks the capacity to lead the party,” Zazzaga said.

The group also accused him of harassing and threatening APC members who are calling for Mutfwang to defect to the party.

‘Plateau People Rejected Yilwatda in 2023’

The Forum argued that Yilwatda has no moral ground to dictate who joins the APC, noting that Plateau people overwhelmingly chose Mutfwang over him in the last election.

“For over two years now we have been trying to convince Mutfwang to come to APC, and he is doing his consultations. Professor Yilwatda has no right to stop him if he decides to come today,” the statement read.

The Forum added that the APC national chairman failed woefully in 2023 “despite attempts to manipulate the election,” and that influential Plateau leaders he assumes are loyal to him are now backing Mutfwang.

Forum Calls on Mutfwang’s Ward to Invite Him Publicly

The Forum urged the APC chapter in Mutfwang’s ward to publicly invite him to join the party, saying this would align with the will of Plateau residents.

“The leaders of Plateau State are with Mutfwang. What the people of Plateau State need is what we want,” the statement added.

It also accused Yilwatda of trying to revoke the Forum’s APC registration certificate in order to silence dissent.

“Professor Nentawe is trying to revoke our certificate of registration, but it was that same certificate that gave us the right to agitate for the position of national chairman to return to North-Central,” the Forum said. “He is using his position to try to silence us, but we are not going to be intimidated.”