Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has responded to criticisms trailing his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the decision was taken in the best interest of the people of the state and not for personal political survival. Since his official declaration for the APC on January 27, the governor has faced backlash from some political figures who accused him of betraying the mandate given to him by Plateau voters in the 2023 general elections. However, speaking during an interactive session with journalists at the Government House in Jos on Saturday, Mutfwang said his action had been misunderstood, stressing that aligning with the ruling party was a strategic move aimed at securing greater development for Plateau State. According to the governor, the PDP has become deeply troubled, with no clear path to resolving its internal crises, making it an unreliable platform ahead of the 2027 general elections. “What I did was not betrayal. It was alignment for the good of the people who voted for me,” Mutfwang said. He revealed that despite intense pressure to leave the PDP earlier—including personal outreach from President Bola Tinubu—he initially resisted. However, the worsening situation within the PDP later convinced him that moving to the APC was the most viable option. “Going into 2027, I needed a platform. When I looked at it and saw that the PDP was not likely going to become a viable platform for 2027, I had to think of an option,” he explained. “The options were either to look for a new political party or to accept the invitation by the President. When I did my intelligence gathering, I found it was least dangerous for me to respond to the President than to think of a new platform.” Mutfwang also ruled out alternative political platforms, noting that he never considered parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as viable options. On the benefits of aligning Plateau State with the ruling party, the governor expressed optimism that existing progress in education, security, agriculture, and other sectors would be strengthened. “The people of Plateau State should expect more development now that we are in the APC. They should expect more collaboration, more enhancement and more support to continue what we have started,” he said. He added that Plateau State has not experienced hostility from the federal government, noting that collaboration over the past year had been largely positive. “What is emerging is that Plateau State is becoming like the jewel of the crown in the North Central,” Mutfwang stated, expressing confidence that the state’s political and economic potential would be fully harnessed. Concluding, the governor said Plateau people are rational and understand leadership decisions when properly explained. “It is not party membership but voter support that matters,” he said.“Since we crossed over, we have been engaging the grassroots. Many of them only wanted to hear the reasoning behind our decision, and leaders across faith and ethnicity have come to appreciate the rationale.” Mutfwang maintained that the support of the people remains intact, regardless of party lines, as he continues to position Plateau State for greater federal collaboration and long-term development.