Caleb Mutfwang, the Plateau State Governor, on Monday, dismissed talks of any rainbow coalition and declared that there is no vacancy in the Government House as he inaugurated the State’s Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing party faithful in Jos while inaugurating the 2027 APC Campaign Council, Governor Mutfwang said Plateau people had firmly chosen the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their vehicle for 2027 and would not be distracted by any coalition arrangement.
“Some people are talking about rainbow, we are talking about a unification movement. Plateau people have decided 2027 to go one direction. And we have chosen that the wings on which we have chosen to fly in 2027 are the wings of the APC,” the governor declared.
He thanked Plateau people for their support and appealed for a second term, insisting that the projects already started by his administration must not be aborted.
“We are going to the nooks and crannies of Plateau State to solicit their endorsement and approval for a second time in office because the many things we have begun must not be aborted,” he said.
Governor Mutfwang likened governance to a relay race and vowed that his government would leave the state better than it met it.
On the twin challenges of hunger and insecurity, the governor admitted the problems exist but rejected claims that nothing had been done.
He announced that a new batch of retrained Operation Rainbow operatives would be commissioned the following week, while at least 800 trained forest guards would be deployed within four weeks to facilitate the return of displaced persons.
Defending President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, Governor Mutfwang said the previous administration left Nigeria on the brink of collapse. He listed state interventions such as metro buses, revived intra-city rail, a 50% cut in tertiary school fees and increased student allowances as efforts to ease the pains of adjustment.
The governor also reaffirmed the zoning arrangement of two terms per senatorial zone in Plateau and challenged critics to accept that there is no vacancy in Government House.
He urged APC candidates and campaign officials to lead from the front, mobilise from the polling units and deliver a peaceful, issue-based campaign, expressing confidence that Plateau would return both Tinubu and himself with resounding victories in 2027.
Governor Mutfwang also assured citizens that no inch of the state’s land will be annexed under his watch, saying his administration will continue to strengthen security and facilitate the return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities.
“If the people of Plateau knew the magnitude of the damage planned against our state, they would appreciate that only God’s intervention and our strategic efforts have helped us thus far.
“One thing I have committed myself to is that I will ensure the protection of every inch of land in Plateau State.
“Very soon, we are going to be taking practical steps to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons back to their communities.
The Governor also said “One of the things we have waited for is to get more boots on ground and, by the grace of God, next week we are going to commission a new batch of retrained Operation Rainbow operatives.
“And in another four weeks, we are going to also release at least 800 trained forest guards. We are determined to ensure that our people return to their ancestral homes”, he said.
Governor Mutfwang commended President Tinubu for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians and for his support in tackling insecurity.
“And so, all we are asking Plateau people is, trust us, be patient with us, and by the grace of God, you will not regret it”, Governor Mutfwang said.
The governor also urged members of the campaign council to take the campaign to the nooks and crannies of the state, saying the administration needed another mandate to complete projects and programmes it had commenced.
“We are going to the nooks and crannies of Plateau State to solicit their endorsement and approval for a second time in office because the many things we have begun must not be aborted. We must ensure that we bring things to a very glorious height.”
“There is no government that ends everything. Every government is a relay. And sometimes you know why they put four people in a relay; that if one leg of the relay didn’t do well, the person taking over can do better, and the entire team can then win the gold medal.
“We can collectively make Plateau State better. This is our desire, and by the grace of God, we are determined that we will leave Plateau State better than we met it in every sense of the word,” he said.
Governor Mutfwang also declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging the people of Plateau to support the party.
Earlier, Rufus Bature, the Plateau State APC Chairman, thanked members of the campaign council for accepting to serve, saying their willingness to participate demonstrated commitment to the party’s campaign ahead of the elections.
He also called for peaceful electioneering, urging party members to campaign with facts, honesty and seriousness.
“We have no reason to be courtiers of violence. We are known for peace and we will continue on that trajectory.
“Let’s travel together. We’ll do all we can to make sure that the campaign is seamless and flawless,” he said.
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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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