Mutfwang Plateau APC primary victory confirmed after the governor secured sweeping support across all 17 LGAs in Plateau State

The All Progressives Congress on Friday night declared Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang as the winner of the party’s governorship primary conducted across the state on Wednesday, following the collation of results from all 17 local government areas.

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Fidelis Mnyim, Chairman of the APC Committee for the Plateau State House of Assembly and Governorship Primary, announced the result at the party secretariat in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, after the committee concluded the verification and compilation of returns from the councils.

According to the returning officer, Mutfwang secured an emphatic victory over his only challenger, retired military officer Chief Yilcini Jan Bida, after dominating the contest in all 17 local government areas of the state.

“The total number of votes scored by Barrister Caleb Mutfwang from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state is 233,335, while Chief Yilcini Jan Bida scored a total of 3,070 votes,” Mnyim stated during the declaration.

“Therefore, Mutfwang, having satisfied the requirement of the APC constitution and guidelines and having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared elected and returned as the governorship candidate of Plateau State.”

The Mutfwang Plateau APC primary outcome marks another significant development in the state’s evolving political landscape following the governor’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party in December 2025.

Mutfwang had resigned from the PDP on December 29, 2025, citing what he described as the need for “clarity of purpose and effective service delivery.”

Days later, the governor formally aligned with the APC and joined the bloc of Progressive Governors supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Chairman of the APC reception committee, Idris Wase, described the governor’s entry into the ruling party as a unifying and strategic move aimed at advancing development across Plateau State.

Wase said the political realignment would create opportunities for improved infrastructure, enhanced security, job creation and stronger economic growth within the state.

The committee also expressed optimism that the governor’s leadership under the APC platform would encourage peace, inclusiveness and sustainable investment, while strengthening collaboration with the Federal Government.

Mutfwang was originally elected governor on the PDP platform during the March 18, 2023 governorship election after polling 525,299 votes against APC candidate Nentawe Yilwatda, who secured 481,370 votes.

His election victory later became the subject of intense legal battles.

While the Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal upheld the result in September 2023, the Court of Appeal nullified the election in November of the same year before the Supreme Court reinstated Mutfwang as governor in January 2024.

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Plateau APC Chairman Rufus Bature commended the electoral committee for what he described as a transparent and credible exercise, praising party members for maintaining order throughout the process.