Kefas Defection to APC a Blessing for Taraba State

A former director at Nigeria’s Federal Capital Development Authority has described the recent defection of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a positive development for the northeastern state.

Mr. Galadima Yusuf, who also serves as an APC chieftain in Taraba, made the remarks on Monday in Jalingo, the state capital. He argued that the governor’s move would secure greater federal support and collaborative opportunities for Taraba, given the APC’s control of the national government.

Yusuf characterised the decision as a wise and development-oriented step, reflecting Governor Kefas’s commitment to the state’s progress. He called on Taraba residents to support the administration’s agenda and expressed personal confidence in the governor’s leadership, pledging his own backing for the administration’s success.

“I feel the return of Governor Agbu Kefas to the APC is a blessing to Taraba State,” Yusuf stated. “His decision to key into the vision of President Bola Tinubu and the APC demonstrates uncommon commitment and zeal to take the state to greater heights.”

He also commended President Tinubu and the APC national leadership for their solidarity, particularly their attendance at the governor’s formal defection ceremony in Taraba last Saturday. The event was attended by President Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yelwatda, among others.

Governor Kefas was originally elected in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His defection to the APC signals a major political realignment in Taraba, a state that has historically alternated between the two dominant parties.

Analysts note that the move potentially strengthens the APC’s consensus-building in the North-East region ahead of future elections. For Taraba State, the immediate significance lies in the anticipated direct line to federal ministries, agencies, and development projects that often favour states governed by the ruling party. The governor’s next steps will be closely watched to see if this political shift translates into tangible infrastructural and economic projects for the state.