Senator representing Plateau south, Simon Lalong, has handed over the leadership of the state All Progressives Congress (APC) to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who just defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Recall that national chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, announced Mutfwang’s entry into the party on Friday.
Lalong spoke on Friday when Mutfwang visited the Plateau APC secretariat in Jos, the state capital.
He said the APC constitution recognises an elected governor as the leader of the party in the state.
“We drafted the constitution of APC,” the former governor of Plateau said.
“Except if the governor says, look, ‘while I am here, you, this person, you will be taken care.’”
He said Mutfwang’s defection to the APC changes the party’s internal leadership structure in Plateau.
“But today, we have an elected governor, and the constitution provides that you are the leader of this party,” he said.
Lalong said he would no longer take decisions on behalf of the party without a mandate from the new governor.
“So, I would say that my tenure ends today,” he said.
“So, those who are waiting for me to do anything, I will not do it now until I have a mandate from the governor, because Plateau is one. He is the leader of our party.”
Lalong said the defection offers an opportunity for political actors in Plateau to close ranks and work together to advance unity and development in the state.