Defection: Governor Mutfwang Never Betrayed Public Trust — APC

Plateau State chapter of the   All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s defection from the party constituted betrayal of public trust.

The PDP’s state publicity secretary, Choji Dalyop while addressing newsmen in Jos had earlier described Mutfwangs’s resignation from the party as a betrayal of trust and a slap on the face of people who trusted him against all odds.

But the APC in a reaction through a statement yesterday by the acting publicity secretary, Shittu Bamaiyi, dismissed the PDP’s claims as “empty threats” and “ill-conceived,” saying Mutfwang joined the APC with several key PDP members, including senators and local government chairmen.

Bamaiyi said: “If Governor Mutfwang did not consult as claimed by the PDP, how come he joined the APC with the party’s most important members?

“The press statement issued by the PDP’s godfather and leader, Senator Jonah Jang, is instructive, as it confirms the governor consulted him before moving out of the moribund party.”

The APC questioned whether PDP officials were “politically ineffective” or were “being economical with the truth” regarding Mutfwang’s defection, describing the move as “calculative, measured, and popular.”

The statement added: “It would have been foolhardy for the governor to remain in the PDP given its current state.

The claim that he betrayed the people’s trust is misplaced, especially as he and the leaders who joined him controlled more than 90% of the PDP followership.

“The APC has graciously received him, and he has the constitutional right to join any party of his choice.”

Bamaiyi said the PDP’s threats were “of no effect,” and scapegoating the APC was “totally misplaced.”

Meanwhile, Senator Simon Lalong while  welcoming  Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the rulling party (APC) at the stakeholders meeting in Kalwa House Jos  said the defection presented a historic opportunity for the political class in Plateau State to unite and work collectively towards building a stronger and more prosperous state.

According to Lalong, in accordance with the provisions of the APC Constitution, he will formally hand over the leadership of the party in the state to Governor Mutfwang, noting that where a sitting governor is a member of the party, he assumes leadership.