2027: No rainbow coalition, Plateau is going APC — Mutfwang

JOS — Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has dismissed suggestions of a possible rainbow coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that the state has chosen the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its  political platform.

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Mutfwang also declared that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock and the Plateau State Government House, expressing confidence that President Bola Tinubu and himself would secure re-election in 2027.

The governor spoke on Monday while inaugurating the APC presidential and state campaign councils in Plateau State, where he urged party members and campaign officials to intensify mobilisation across the state.

“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,” he said.

Soliciting support for a second term, Mutfwang thanked Plateau residents for their support, insisting that projects and programmes initiated by his administration should be allowed to continue.

“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.

Describing leadership as a relay race, the governor said his administration was determined to build on existing achievements and leave the state better than it met it.

On the challenges of hunger and insecurity, Mutfwang acknowledged the difficulties confronting residents but defended his administration’s efforts to address them.

He announced plans to strengthen Operation Rainbow and deploy additional forest guards to improve security and facilitate the return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities.

“Next week, we are going to commission another batch of retrained Operation Rainbow operatives, and within the next four weeks, we are going to deploy not less than 800 trained forest guards,” he said.

Defending President Tinubu’s economic reforms, the governor said the current administration inherited a difficult economic situation from its predecessor, arguing that the reforms were necessary to stabilise the economy.

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“The President inherited an economy that was tottering on the brink of collapse, and the reforms were necessary to rescue the country,” he said.

Highlighting measures introduced by his administration to cushion the impact of economic adjustments on residents, Mutfwang listed the introduction of metro buses, revival of the intra-city rail system, a 50 per cent reduction in tertiary institution fees and increased student allowances.

On the state’s zoning arrangement, the governor reaffirmed the principle of two terms for each senatorial zone and urged those questioning the arrangement to respect it.

“We have a zoning arrangement in Plateau State, and it is two terms per senatorial zone. Those who are saying otherwise should understand that there is no vacancy in the Plateau State Government House,” he declared.

He urged APC candidates and campaign officials to take their mobilisation efforts to the grassroots, particularly polling units, while ensuring that the campaign remained peaceful and issue-based.

“We must lead from the front. We must go to the polling units, mobilise our people and ensure that we deliver a peaceful and issue-based campaign,” he said.

Expressing confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, Mutfwang said the APC was determined to secure victories in the presidential and governorship elections.

“We are determined to return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and myself with resounding victories in 2027,” he said, urging Plateau residents to continue supporting the President and the APC.