Almost two months after announcing his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas was officially welcome to his new party on Saturday at a massive reception in Jalingo, the state capital.
In a symbolic and defining moment, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda presented the party’s flag to the governor, thereby affirming him as the leader of the party in the state, and assured the people of the state that, with the alignment, the benefits of the Federal Government would increasingly flow into the state, accelerating development across key sectors.
Out of 36 states, the APC has 29 governors in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu and Gombe States.
It also has governors in Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa and Niger States.
Others are: Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe States.
The remaining seven states of the federation are shared between the PDP (Adamawa. Bauchi, Oyo and Zamfara States), while the Labour Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the Accord Party have a governor each in Abia, Anambra and Osun States.
The Jalingo event attracted party leaders, stakeholders, supporters, and citizens from across the state, underscoring the widespread acceptance of the governor’s decision.
Welcoming the governor, Yilwatda described the move from the PDP to the APC as timely, courageous, and in the best interest of the people of the state. He noted that Kefas’ decision to align with the ruling party at the centre positions the state to fully benefit from federal programmes, policies, and interventions under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
The National Chairman said. ”The APC is the party at the centre, and in my Father’s house there are many mansions. There is room for every Nigerian who is willing to come into the APC. Those who are still outside, our message is simple: come to the centre, there are many mansions for you. In the APC, all states and all people are equal, and Taraba is as important as every other APC-governed state’.
He assured the people of the state that, with this alignment, the benefits of the Federal Government would increasingly flow into the state, accelerating development across key sectors.
The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru described Kefas’ reception into the ruling party as a moment of collective joy for the party’s leadership nationwide.
He said that the event symbolised the growing strength and national appeal of the APC.
‘On behalf of the National Working Committee, it is our joy to be here together with the Vice President, governors, and the leadership of the National Assembly to receive the Governor of Taraba State into our great party’, Basiru stated.
He noted that the APC has evolved into the largest political party in Africa, with a reach and membership base that surpasses that of many sovereign nations.
‘The APC has become the largest party. I can confidently say that our party is larger than over 120 countries of the world in terms of spread and acceptance. The APC is truly a pan-Nigerian party’, he said.
Kefas said that his decision to join the APC was not about politics for its own sake, but about purpose, mission, and the future of his state.
He declared: ‘Today, I stand before you not to make noise, but to make meaning; not to play politics, but to lead with focus. This programme was earlier scheduled for last year but was shifted in solidarity with the people of Kebbi State during the unfortunate kidnapping of their children. We thank God for the safe return of those children’.
Responding to negative narratives around defection, the governor stressed that his move was driven purely by the interest of the people.
‘Some say this is defection. I say to you, it is about mission. I took this decision for the people of Taraba State — for our youths and the development of their potential; for our women, so they can truly feel a sense of belonging; for our farmers, to boost productivity and ensure food security; and for the rapid development of infrastructure across all sectors’, he explained.
Kefas further assured that his decision was not borne out of political survival but a genuine desire to fast-track development.
‘I am not in the APC for survival; I am here for the progress of Taraba State. I will not abandon our collective will. I understand what it means to lead the people’, he said.
The governor boldly declared his commitment to the APC and to the people of the state.
He said: ‘We are moving to the APC to strengthen and actualise our programmes. I declare my movement with boldness and with total commitment to making life better for the people of Taraba State’.
