Former Plateau State Governor and current Senator representing Plateau South, Simon Lalong, has opened up on his decision to step down as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state in favour of Governor Caleb Mutfwang. Speaking with journalists in Jos on Wednesday, Lalong said the move was driven by his commitment to fostering peace, unity, and stability within the party.
Lalong, who previously served as the Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Council during the 2023 general elections, was the undisputed APC leader in Plateau until Mutfwang defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in December 2025. With the governor’s arrival, Lalong felt it was necessary to adjust the party hierarchy, allowing Mutfwang to assume the leadership role.
“The governor indicated his intention to return to the APC, and we welcomed him without any resistance, unlike what has happened in many states,” Lalong said. “The PDP collapsed, and governance returned to my party because I was instrumental in bringing the APC to Plateau. I was the leader and sole commander of the party, alongside the late General Shagaya and others. The APC gave me a platform, and I became governor. So, with the party firmly established, I feel honoured to be regarded as its father in the state, and I am proud that people have left their parties to join me in my house.”
He added, “It is natural that when a guest, especially a governor, comes with good intentions, you welcome him. Today, we have a very cordial relationship with the state governor. I feel honoured and dignified that Plateau State is now APC. When Governor Mutfwang joined the APC, one of the first things I did to make him comfortable was to say, ‘I surrender the leadership to you,’ so he would know that the house he is entering has been fully handed over to him.”
Lalong recounted Mutfwang’s response: “The governor replied, ‘Your Excellency, I am surprised you have surrendered this leadership to me. Do not think you are running away from me. You cannot run away from me. Both of us will run this party together.’”
The Senator also used the occasion to announce his intention to seek re-election for a second term in the Senate after collecting his nomination form. He emphasized that in any state, the governor naturally assumes party leadership, and his acceptance of Mutfwang’s return without resistance was in the best interest of the party, the state, and the nation.