In a seismic shift that has redrawn Taraba State's political map, Governor Agbu Kefas has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This move, long speculated, was executed with notable restraint, marking a decisive turn in the state's governance and opposition dynamics.
A Quiet Ceremony Ends Months of Speculation
The formal defection occurred on a calm Sunday in Jalingo, starkly devoid of the fanfare typical of Nigerian political realignments. Governor Kefas was registered as an APC member by executives from the Hospital Ward chapter in Wukari Local Government Area within the Government House. The event, witnessed by key party officials like State Secretary Fidelis Francis, involved the simple presentation of a membership card, closing weeks of intense speculation.
The governor had initially planned a grand ceremony for November 19, 2025, but shelved it, citing the need for reflection following the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State. He emphasized that the registration was about fulfilling basic requirements, not fanfare. "I have already written to the party at the ward level, and today’s exercise is simply to fulfil the basic requirements," Kefas stated.
Domino Effect: Assembly and LG Chairmen Lead the Way
Governor Kefas's move was preceded by a massive defection that laid the groundwork for the state's political transformation. All 16 members of the Taraba State House of Assembly resigned from the PDP and crossed to the APC in a single sweep, announced by Speaker John Kizito Bonzina during plenary.
The lawmakers justified their decision by citing deep divisions and a protracted leadership crisis within the PDP at the national level. Member Jethro Yakubu (Wukari I) warned the crisis "has the potential to expunge the party from the country." Others, like Musa Chul of Gassol I, stated they consulted constituents before deciding their future lay with the ruling party.
Furthermore, the 16 Local Government Council chairmen acted as forerunners, defecting to the APC shortly after the council elections held on Saturday, November 8, 2025. In a statement by then-ALGON Chairman Dr. Aminu Jauro Hassan, they declared their move was to solidarise with Governor Kefas and align with his "Moving Forward Agenda for Taraba State."
Implications and Mixed Reactions
The collective defection has turned Taraba into a wholly APC-controlled subnational entity, with both the executive and the 24-member legislature now under the party's banner. Former Speaker Abel Peter Diah welcomed the governor, framing his move as an alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and suggesting Taraba would benefit from being politically aligned with the centre.
However, the influx of defectors has sparked caution. Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume warned that the APC risked internal implosion by absorbing defectors "promiscuously." He dismissed many as "political lightweights" and projected the party could become "overloaded with mostly empty cargo."
Within the PDP, some interpreted the subdued nature of Kefas's registration as a mixture of regret and apprehension about his future in the APC. Nonetheless, the mood in Taraba's APC camp is one of quiet confidence. APC State Secretary Fidelis Francis assured that the party leadership was united behind Governor Kefas, ready to give him all necessary cooperation to reposition the APC for electoral success in the state.
The political architecture of Taraba has been fundamentally altered. Whether this historic shift will translate into stability and development or merely reshuffle old rivalries under a new banner is a question only time and future ballots will answer.
