Governor Caleb Mutfwang has secured the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau State after defeating his challenger, retired Navy Commodore Yilchini Jan Bida, by a wide margin in the party’s primary election.
Mutfwang polled 233,335 votes to emerge victorious in the exercise conducted across the 17 local government areas of the state, while Bida garnered 3,070 votes.
The results were announced on Thursday in Jos by the Chairman of the APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, Fidelis Bemsen, who declared Mutfwang winner of the contest.
Bemsen disclosed that a total of 239,405 votes were recorded during the primary election, describing the exercise as peaceful, orderly and in compliance with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
According to him, “I, as Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer, hereby certify that the Plateau State governorship primary election held on May 21, 2026, was duly conducted.
“The aspirants received the following votes: Commander Yilchini Jan Bida (Rtd.) scored 3,070 votes, while Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang scored 233,335 votes.
“Therefore, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, having satisfied the requirements of the APC Constitution and guidelines, and having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is hereby declared winner and returned elected as the APC governorship candidate for Plateau State.”
He added that the outcome of the exercise would be forwarded to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja for validation and ratification in line with the party’s directives.
Our correspondent gathered that party officials and security agencies monitored the exercise across the state, with reports indicating that the primary election was largely hitch-free.
A breakdown of the results showed that Mutfwang recorded overwhelming victories in all the 17 local government areas.
In Jos North Local Government Area, the governor polled 26,652 votes against Bida’s 68 votes, while in Mangu Local Government Area, he secured 28,095 votes as against 46 votes recorded by his challenger.
In Jos South, Mutfwang scored 16,182 votes to defeat Bida who polled 83 votes, while in Shendam, the governor secured 17,203 votes against 389 votes.
Other results showed that in Kanam, Mutfwang polled 19,595 votes against Bida’s 119 votes; in Langtang North, the governor scored 14,285 votes against 79 votes; while in Pankshin, he garnered 13,050 votes to Bida’s 304 votes.
Similarly, in Qua’an Pan, Mutfwang polled 11,435 votes against 687 votes recorded by Bida, while in Kanke, he secured 9,194 votes against 481 votes.
The governor also coasted to victory in Wase, Bokkos, Bassa, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos East, Langtang South and Mikang local government areas with commanding margins over his lone challenger.
The outcome of the primary has effectively positioned Mutfwang as the APC standard-bearer ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Plateau State.
