Why Taraba Governor May Defect To APC — Aide

The Special Adviser to the Taraba State governor on Political Matters and Special Duties, Josiah Kente, has said that the growing call for Governor Agbu Kefas to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was a strategic move aimed at accelerating the state’s development and integration into national politics.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Jalingo, Kente described the possible alignment as a “bold and visionary step” that would enhance Taraba’s access to federal opportunities and infrastructure projects.

He clarified that the call for the governor’s defection was not driven by personal ambition or political gain but by the “collective interest of Tarabans.”

“This call is anchored not on partisan interest but on the collective aspiration of the people of Taraba for sustainable progress, infrastructural transformation, and inclusion in national affairs,” Kente stated.

According to him, aligning with the APC at the national level would open new channels for collaboration in areas such as federal projects, security cooperation, and donor-funded interventions.

“With the Governor’s alignment to the ruling party, Taraba stands to benefit from increased federal presence such as roads, bridges, hospitals, and power installations which are currently concentrated in states with stronger federal ties,” he added.

Kente praised Governor Kefas’ leadership since assuming office in 2023, citing achievements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure under the Moving Forward agenda.

“Governor Kefas has demonstrated exceptional leadership and courage since taking office, and his Moving Forward agenda could achieve greater impact through synergy with the Federal Government,” he said.

“It is only fitting that such visionary leadership is supported by the enabling political environment at the national level. The times call for bold, strategic decisions that transcend party sentiment in favour of the people’s welfare.”

He called on political stakeholders, youth groups, and opinion leaders in Taraba to rally behind the governor in what he described as a “realignment for growth and prosperity.”

Governor Kefas, who was elected on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform in 2023, has faced mounting pressure in recent months from individuals and groups urging him to join the APC to attract more federal attention to the state.

If the defection materialises, it would mark a historic political shift in Taraba, ending the PDP’s 26-year dominance since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 and signaling a major realignment in the state’s political landscape.