The Taraba State Governor’s Special Adviser on Political Matters and Special Duties, Josiah Kente, has said that the call for Governor Agbu Kefas to join the All Progressives Congress would boost development in the state.
Kente, in a statement issued in Jalingo on Tuesday, said the governor’s likely alignment with the ruling party was a strategic step to ensure Taraba’s full inclusion in national development and federal opportunities.
He explained that the move was not driven by personal ambition or political gain but by “the collective interest of Tarabans,” adding that Kefas’ record of performance in education, healthcare, and infrastructure deserved stronger federal backing.
“This call is anchored not on partisan interest but on the collective aspiration of the people of Taraba for sustainable progress, infrastructural transformation, and inclusion in national affairs,” Kente stated.
He said joining forces with the APC at the national level would open new channels for the state’s development, particularly in federal projects, security cooperation, and donor-funded interventions.
“With the Governor’s alignment to the ruling party, Taraba stands to benefit from increased federal presence such as roads, bridges, hospitals, and power installations which are currently concentrated in states with stronger federal ties,” he added.
The political adviser noted that Governor Kefas had demonstrated exceptional leadership and courage since taking office, and his Moving Forward agenda could achieve greater impact through synergy with the Federal Government.
“It is only fitting that such visionary leadership is supported by the enabling political environment at the national level. The times call for bold, strategic decisions that transcend party sentiment in favour of the people’s welfare,” ” Kente said.
He urged Taraba stakeholders, youth groups, and opinion leaders to rally behind the governor in what he described as a “realignment for growth and prosperity.”
Governor Agbu Kefas was elected in 2023 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. If he eventually moves to APC, it would signal a major political realignment in Taraba, which has been a PDP stronghold since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 and will end PDP’s 26-year rule in the state.
In recent times, they have been calling from Individuals and groups urging the Governor to move to the APC to attract more federal presence to the state.
