President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ignited fresh political controversy after declaring that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) automatically assume leadership of the party in their respective states.
The president made the assertion on Saturday in Jalingo during the official reception of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu announced that Kefas had taken over the leadership of the APC in Taraba following his defection, a move seen by many as a direct endorsement of the governor’s dominance over the party structure in the state.
Tinubu pledged full federal support for Kefas and his administration, stressing that the governor’s decision to join the ruling party would accelerate development in Taraba. He also urged residents of the state to rally behind the governor, while pointedly calling on Adamawa and Bauchi States to align with the APC at the centre.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, hailed Kefas’ defection as a bold and timely decision, describing the PDP as a declining opposition. He said Taraba had now secured a place in the “winning party” ahead of the 2027 general elections, but cautioned the governor against marginalising party members.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril, claimed the defection would open doors for greater federal presence in Taraba, including improved infrastructure and enhanced security, remarks that have further fuelled accusations of political favouritism.
In his response, Governor Kefas defended his move, insisting it was not for personal gain but for the collective interest of the people of Taraba. He said the defection was aimed at creating jobs, boosting business opportunities, and restoring unity in the state.
Kefas, who won the 2023 governorship election on the PDP platform, formally defected to the APC in 2025, a development that continues to stir debate across the political landscape of the North-East.
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