Caleb Mutfwang, a former Mangu Local Government Chairman, gained the office for the PDP by a margin of ~4% over APC nominee Nentawe Yilwatda.
The overproliferation of weaponry and increased pressure for land along with failures in governance led to the worsening of these clashes in the years ahead of the election.
At the beginning of Lalong's second term, he announced that the administration would center its policy on infrastructure development, peace and community security, and sustainable economic growth.
[13] In terms of his performance, Lalong was commended for infrastructural development while being criticized for a poor response to increasingly deadly interethnic violence and denying opposition politicians access to government-owned media.
[27][6] As opposition to his nomination continued, Yilwatda commenced his general election campaign and selected Pam Bot-mang—the Commissioner of Works and son of former Deputy Governor Michael Bot-mang—as his running mate.
[51] On 21 June, Mutfwang announced Josephine Chundung Piyo—a fellow former Local Government Chairperson—as his running mate at the State Party Secretariat in Jos.
'[51][64] As the focus shifted the general election campaign itself, analysts noted potential dynamics including the APC infighting along with the experience of both Mutfwang and Yilwatda in addition to the more prominent minor party nominees—Sani Dawop (ADP), Samuel Abashe (APGA), Patrick Dakum (LP), and Luka Panpe Yakubu (PRP).
With the election's new framing as a three-way contest, punditry focused on each candidate's strengths and weaknesses: for Dakum, the popularity of Peter Obi—the LP presidential nominee—greatly helped his campaign viability but the party still lacks a substantial overarching structure in the state; for Mutfwang, his grassroots network was reportedly strong but the PDP crises had greatly hurt his campaign; and for Yilwatda, his personality and APC incumbency were categorized as boosts but the party crisis and APC unpopularity worked against him.
With Obi's performance boosting his chances and a favorable Supreme Court ruling that affirmed his candidacy, Dakum gained momentum in the final weeks of campaigning.
[72][73] On 26 February 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable, setting out key dates and deadlines for the election.