Taraba Governor Denies Bribery in Defection to APC, Vows 100% Support for Tinubu in 2027
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has rejected allegations that a bribe influenced his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He asserts his defection was solely a matter of personal conviction and strategic interest for his state.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, following his first official meeting with President Bola Tinubu since his defection, Governor Kefas stated that monetary gain played no part in his political shift. “My decision was based on what is best for Taraba State and its future. Nobody gave me money to defect to the APC,” he said. He described the move as “a carefully considered step to improve cooperation and development outcomes” between the state and the federal government.
The governor, who was elected on the PDP ticket in 2023, formally joined the APC earlier this year. He framed the defection as a proactive choice to align with the party in power at the federal level, thereby facilitating smoother access to resources and projects for Taraba.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Governor Kefas expressed unwavering confidence in his and President Tinubu’s electoral prospects in the northeastern state. He claimed extensive groundwork and sustained public support had already secured a mandate for the APC. “Taraba is for him, and he’s going to get nothing less than 100 per cent,” Kefas said, adding that his administration’s grassroots initiatives have strengthened public trust.
His meeting with President Tinubu, he explained, focused on critical state issues including security, agricultural development, and social welfare programs. He described the engagement as productive, asserting it would enhance collaboration between Taraba and the federal government. “Since my movement to the ruling party, I decided to come and see him and discuss some strategic issues concerning the welfare of the people of Taraba State,” he noted.
Governor Kefas also used the platform to call for national peace and unity, acknowledging the concurrent Christian Lenten and Muslim Ramadan periods as a moment for collective prayer and recommitment to Nigeria’s development.
His defection, coming from a state that is not an APC stronghold, is seen as a significant political development. It underscores ongoing efforts by the ruling party to consolidate support across Nigeria’s diverse regions ahead of the next election cycle. The governor’s firm denial of bribery claims aims to counter narratives often accompanying high-profile party switches in Nigerian politics, positioning his move instead as a statesmanlike act for Taraba’s progress.
