By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
A frontline governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Chief David Sabo Kente, has rejected a financial inducement allegedly offered by Governor Agbu Kefas to persuade him to withdraw from the 2027 gubernatorial race.
Sources close to the aspirant reveal that associates of the Governor made the lucrative offer to convince Kente to step aside, allowing Mr Kefas to run unopposed on the APC ticket. Both men hail from the same local government area and ethnic group.
Chief Kente, an APC chieftain, has since confirmed in media interviews that he remains in the race. He maintains that pressure from supporters across all 168 electoral wards compelled him to reconsider his earlier decision not to contest against Mr Kefas, whom he describes as his “younger brother”.
His media consultant, Ben Adaji, argued that only the APC leadership holds the constitutional authority to convene a meeting for the adoption of a consensus candidate. He insisted that Mr Kente demands a level playing field.
The financial inducement claim has not been independently verified from the Taraba State Government or the APC state chapter. Both camps had yet to issue a response at the time of publication.
Although some in power initially dismissed Mr Kente’s ambition, the crowds he drew in the Governor’s hometown of Wukari and in the state capital have reportedly unsettled the Governor’s camp.
Our correspondent gathered that the Governor is keen to avoid a direct primary and is desperate to emerge unopposed. In contrast, Chief Kente insists that party members should decide the flagbearer.
Notably, contrary to the APC’s claim on Thursday that its state secretariat was under renovation and could not receive Mr Kente for a courtesy visit, our correspondent observed normal activities under way there on Friday morning, with gates wide open.
