The Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has witnessed 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 noted that the movement of politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC has intensified in recent weeks.
The defections have been significant, with all 24 members of the State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, joining the APC. Additionally, 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 defected. This has left the PDP’s political machinery in the state severely depleted.
Yaweh attributed the trend to the leadership style of Governor Agbu Kefas, whom he praised for his fairness and political maturity. Although Governor Kefas has not made a formal declaration, Yaweh claimed that he has already unofficially aligned himself 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 towards a one-party system, instead seeing the defections as a reflection of strong leadership and political clarity that would foster unity and accelerate development in the state.
The mass defections in Taraba State are part of a broader trend of politicians switching parties in Nigeria. The APC has been gaining strength in recent months, with several high-profile defections from the PDP. As the political landscape continues to shift, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the state and national politics. With the official ceremony for Governor Kefas’ defection pending, the situation in Taraba State is likely to remain a subject of interest in the coming weeks.
