A coalition of youths in Taraba has urged Governor Agbu Kefas to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to align the state with the centre. Correspondent VICTOR GAI reports
Pressure is mounting on Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A coalition of youths across the state has intensified calls for him to align with the Federal Government. The group said Taraba stands to benefit greatly if the governor defects to the party at the centre.
According to the youths, the move would open the door for more development opportunities, federal appointments, and infrastructural projects, which they say have eluded the state for years due to political isolation.
Speaking in Jalingo, the state capital, the coalition’s spokesperson said it was time for Taraba to “align with the centre” to attract the dividends of democracy.
“If Governor Kefas joins the All Progressives Congress (APC), Taraba will gain direct access to federal projects, resources, and opportunities that our people, especially the youth, desperately need,” the group stated.
They maintained that their demand was not about partisan politics but about securing a better future for the people of the state.
“We, the youth of Taraba State, are united in this call. We want development, not division. We want bridges that connect us, not politics that separate us. We want roads, power, jobs, and opportunities that secure our future,” they added.
The group further praised Governor Kefas for his leadership style and described him as “a man of courage and vision,” noting that his political future would be better served if he aligned with the APC.
“Governor Kefas has already shown that he is a man of courage and vision. We urge him to make history by aligning with the centre, so Taraba can rise and take its rightful place in Nigeria’s progress,” the statement read.
The call comes amid growing speculation in political circles that the governor, who was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), may be considering a switch to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the rumours have triggered mixed reactions across the state’s political spectrum, with some stakeholders viewing the development as a strategic move for survival, while others dismiss it as an unnecessary political distraction.
Reacting to the growing speculation, an APC chieftain and former governorship aspirant, Chief David Sabo Kente, has denied claims that he was paving the way for Governor Kefas to join the ruling party.
Kente, who hails from Wukari Local Government Area — the same hometown as Governor Kefas — said he had no prior knowledge of any plan by the governor to defect, insisting that such talk remained in the realm of speculation.
“I want to put it on record that I am a loyal member of the APC and I have been sincere since I joined the party,” Kente said. “I know that I played a key role towards the emergence of my younger brother, Agbu Kefas, as governor of the state in 2023, and I have paid a very high price for that because I am excluded from the government completely.”
Kente explained that while he had once stated he would not contest the 2027 governorship election in solidarity with Governor Kefas, recent pressure from supporters across the state had forced him to reconsider his stance.
“I also said a few weeks ago that I wouldn’t contest against him in 2027, except if that became the overwhelming position of the people of Taraba State. Since then, I have been overwhelmed with calls from individuals and groups urging me to contest the forthcoming election at all costs,” he revealed.
“Most of them have even volunteered to buy my form. As a result, I have had to shift grounds, and today, I can tell you that consultations are high and I may be contesting the election after all.”
He dismissed insinuations that his renewed political ambition was a calculated attempt to smooth the governor’s entry into the APC. “Let me clarify that as a critical stakeholder in the APC in Southern Taraba and from Wukari Local Government Area, where the governor comes from, he has not informed me of any decision to join the party,” Kente stated.
“I was surprised when people started accusing me of clearing the ground for his defection into the party. He did not and has not informed me of his intention to join the APC. For me, it is still in the realm of rumours.”
Kente, who is popularly known as DSK among his supporters, further stressed that the APC remains a broad-based political platform that welcomes all Nigerians willing to contribute to its growth.
“However, let me make it clear that the party is large enough to accommodate everyone. Whether the governor is coming as an asset or a liability is left for the party members to decide,” he said.
Political observers in Taraba say the latest development reflects growing tension and realignment in the build-up to the 2027 elections. Since taking office in 2023, Governor Kefas has enjoyed support across party lines, largely due to his calm disposition and focus on inclusive governance.
However, sources close to the state government say that the relationship between the PDP-led state administration and the APC-controlled federal government has at times been strained, particularly over access to federal projects and appointments.
Analysts believe that the calls for Kefas to join the APC may be part of a broader political strategy to position Taraba closer to the national power structure.
A political commentator in Jalingo, who preferred anonymity, said, “What you are seeing is part of the realignment process. The 2027 election is already taking shape, and everyone is positioning. The pressure on Kefas to join the APC is not surprising, especially considering the dominance of the party at the national level.”
Another analyst, however, cautioned that such a move could polarise the political space in Taraba and weaken the PDP, which has historically been the dominant party in the state.
“Defection is a double-edged sword,” the analyst noted. “While it might bring short-term access to federal resources, it could also alienate the governor from his political base and create new tensions within his administration.”
Governor Kefas has so far maintained silence on the matter. Though he has not publicly dismissed or confirmed the rumours, sources within the Government House in Jalingo told The Nation that the governor remains focused on governance and delivering on his campaign promises.
One senior aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “His Excellency is not distracted by political rumours. He is focused on his vision for Taraba — on education, security, and infrastructure. He believes performance is the best politics.”
Indeed, since assuming office, Governor Kefas has rolled out several initiatives targeting youth empowerment, education reform, and infrastructure development. His administration recently launched a free basic education policy and has been working to attract private investment into agriculture and tourism, two sectors seen as vital to the state’s growth.
Despite these strides, his government has faced challenges, including the lingering insecurity in parts of Southern Taraba and disputes over political appointments.
Observers believe that his next political move — whether to stay in the PDP or join the APC — will have far-reaching implications for the state’s political future.
The APC has continued to consolidate its influence across the North-East zone, with recent defections from opposition parties boosting its structure ahead of the next general elections.
In neighbouring states like Gombe and Bauchi, several PDP stalwarts have recently crossed over to the ruling party, citing the need to align with the centre for “developmental gains.”
Party insiders say the APC in Taraba is also positioning itself to attract new members, particularly influential figures who can strengthen its chances of capturing the state in 2027.
A senior party official in Jalingo, who does not want his name in print, said the APC was open to welcoming Governor Kefas if he chose to join, but insisted that such a decision must come from the governor himself.
“Our doors are open,” the official said. “But Governor Kefas must make that decision personally. The APC does not beg anyone to join — we only present a platform for progress.”
With barely two years before the next general elections, Taraba State appears to be at a political crossroads. The calls for Governor Kefas to defect have not only stirred debate about political loyalty and performance but also reignited old rivalries among key power blocs in the state.
While youth groups insist that “aligning with the centre” is the surest way to unlock development, others argue that political stability and continuity within the PDP are crucial for sustaining ongoing reforms.
For now, Governor Kefas remains publicly silent — a silence that many believe is both strategic and deliberate. Whether he stays in the PDP or makes a dramatic switch to the APC could reshape the political landscape of Taraba for years to come.
As one political elder in the state put it: “Whatever Kefas decides will determine who controls the future of Taraba politics. All eyes are on him.”
