By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
Growing disaffection within Taraba State’s political landscape is fuelling concerns that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could lose significant ground in the 7 governorship election unless urgent action is taken to address governance failures and internal discord.
Governor Agbu Kefas, in office since 2023, is facing mounting criticism over his administration’s pace of development, particularly in infrastructure, youth empowerment, and rural economy. Public expectations, once high, have increasingly given way to disappointment across several parts of the state.
For the first time in Taraba’s history, an incumbent governor must contend with multiple challengers for his party’s ticket. Three aspirants—former Minister of Power Alhaji Salleh Maman, Chief David Sabo Kente, and Alhaji Jaaji Sambo—have all purchased nomination forms to contest against Governor Kefas.
More troubling for the governor is the apparent erosion of key political support bases. The Christian community, instrumental in his 2023 victory, has grown disenchanted despite his recent church visits. The Muslim community has also voiced complaints over what they describe as discriminatory leadership.
Perhaps most significantly, Hon. Dinshiya Usman, a nephew of elder statesman General Theophilus Danjuma, has obtained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship form for 2027. For months, speculation had swirled that Danjuma—widely credited with imposing Kefas on Taraba in 2023—had fallen out with him. Usman’s entry into the race has all but confirmed the rift.
“In a free and fair primary, I will beat the incumbent governor by a landslide,” Chief David Sabo Kente told journalists, a claim many political observers do not dispute. Pressure from Kente’s hometown of Wukari is mounting for him to replace Kefas as the APC standard-bearer.
Within the APC, party faithful have warned that unresolved internal divisions and lack of cohesion could prove fatal in 2027. They have called on the national leadership to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness in handling party affairs in Taraba.
The national leadership holds significant sway—but the ultimate decision rests with the electorate. And by all indications, Taraba’s voters know precisely where they intend to cast their ballots.
