The Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has experienced an unprecedented wave of political defections, according to Dr. Jinadu Garvey Yaweh, State Secretary of the APC National Youth Vanguard. Speaking to journalists in Jalingo, the state capital, Yaweh said that the movement of politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC has intensified in recent weeks.
The defections have been significant. All 24 members of the State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, have joined the APC. In addition, several top government officials—such as commissioners, the Secretary to the State Government, Gebon Timothy Kataps, and the PDP State Chairman, Abubakar Bawa—have also switched allegiance. This exodus has left the PDP’s political machinery in the state severely depleted.
Yaweh attributed the trend to the leadership style of Governor Agbu Kefas, praising his fairness and political maturity. Although Governor Kefas has not made a formal declaration, Yaweh claimed that he has already aligned himself unofficially with the APC, with only the official ceremony pending. The governor’s formal move to the APC has been delayed due to recent security concerns across the country.
The APC youth leader argued that aligning with the ruling party at the national level would benefit Taraba, making it easier to attract developmental projects. He dismissed concerns about Nigeria drifting toward a one‑party system, viewing the defections instead as a reflection of strong leadership and political clarity that could foster unity and accelerate development in the state.
These mass defections in Taraba are part of a broader trend of party switching in Nigeria, with the APC gaining strength in recent months through several high‑profile defections from the PDP. As the political landscape continues to shift, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact state and national politics. With the official ceremony for Governor Kefas’s defection still pending, the situation in Taraba State is likely to remain a subject of interest in the coming weeks.
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