Former Plateau State Governor and Senator, Jonah David Jang, has firmly dismissed reports suggesting that he has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that he remains loyal to the party he helped to build — despite the recent defection of his political protégé, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jang’s clarification comes amid growing speculation within Plateau political circles following Mutfwang’s dramatic exit from the PDP — a move widely seen as a major blow to the opposition party in the state and a symbolic rupture within the Jang political family.
In a statement released on Sunday by his media consultant, Clinton Garuba, the former governor described claims that he had moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as false and misleading.
“As a founding member of the PDP, Senator Jonah Jang remains in the party of pride of the Nigerian people — the PDP,” the statement read.
Jang Stays Back as His Protégé Moves On
Political observers note that Jang’s decision to remain in the PDP is particularly significant given his long-standing influence in Plateau politics and his central role in sponsoring and supporting Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s rise to power under the PDP platform before the governor’s eventual defection to the APC.
Despite the political shockwaves generated by Mutfwang’s move, Jang made it clear that his loyalty to the PDP is rooted in principle rather than political convenience.
The former governor acknowledged that the PDP is currently facing internal crises but expressed confidence that ongoing legal battles and reconciliation efforts would eventually stabilise the party.
“Even though the PDP is going through turbulent times, Senator Jang firmly believes that the various court cases will bring an end to the crises and return the party to the pinnacle of Nigerian politics,” the statement added.
A Signal to PDP Faithful in Plateau
Jang’s stance is being interpreted as a message to PDP loyalists in Plateau State and beyond that the party’s future does not rest solely on the actions of sitting governors or political realignments, but on institutional resilience and ideological commitment.
As defections continue to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of future elections, Jang’s refusal to follow his former ally into the APC positions him as one of the remaining senior PDP figures holding the line — even as political tides shift around him.
