‘I didn’t sign 60-40 cabinet sharing deal with anyone’ – Gov Mutfwang

Plateau State's Governor Caleb Mutfwang has refuted claims that he signed a 60-40 cabinet-sharing agreement before switching allegiance from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He categorically denied any such arrangement between his administration and the APC leadership in the state. The controversial agreement came under scrutiny following a recent cabinet reshuffle orchestrated by Mutfwang, which drew criticism from a faction within the APC called the "Legacy Group," who are supportive of former Governor Simon Lalong.

The critics argued that the reshuffle violated the supposed terms of an agreement supposedly signed by Mutfwang prior to his defection. However, Mutfwang adamantly stated that he never entered into such a pact with the Lalong faction nor did he base his defection on the expectation of receiving 40% of cabinet appointments in return.

During the swearing-in of three new commissioners, Mutfwang addressed what he termed as a "wild misconception," denying any promise to allocate 40% of government positions to members of the Legacy Group. He clarified that he had only committed to sharing party positions, not government roles. Mutfwang further pointed out that the Legacy Group had indeed benefited more from appointments and positions post-defection, with 16 out of the 24 APC House of Assembly candidates being from their faction, compared to just eight who joined him from the PDP.

He urged for unity, emphasizing that "we are one big family" and that bringing in former PDP members was based on their potential contributions to government, not their affiliation with the APC.