President Bola Tinubu has declared that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are the leaders of the party in their respective states.
The president made the declaration on Saturday at the official reception of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, into the APC, held in Jalingo.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu announced that Kefas had automatically assumed the leadership of the APC in Taraba State by virtue of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
He expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to support the governor and his cabinet in driving development in the state, noting that Kefas had shown commitment to uniting Taraba and harmonising its diverse interests to achieve lasting peace and progress.
The president urged the people of the state to rally behind the governor and support his administration to succeed, describing unity as critical to development.
Tinubu also expressed satisfaction with the defection of a governor from the North-East geopolitical zone, calling on Adamawa and Bauchi states to follow suit by joining the party at the centre.
Earlier, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, commended Kefas for what he described as a courageous decision to join the ruling party, insisting that the governor did not make a mistake by leaving the PDP.
Yilwatda described the PDP as a “sinking platform” and said Kefas’ defection was a major gain for the APC, adding that it would enhance economic growth in Taraba and create opportunities for youths and women in the state.
According to him, Taraba is now fully aligned with what he described as the winning party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He assured all APC members, both old and new, of equal opportunities within the party and advised the governor to unite party members and avoid discrimination.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the people of Taraba and the governor, saying the defection would bring increased development, improved infrastructure, and strengthened security to the state.
Represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril, Akpabio said Kefas’ decision to join the APC would enable Taraba to enjoy equal opportunities in national governance.
Speaking at the event, Governor Kefas said the occasion marked a turning point for the future of Taraba State, urging residents to focus on the future rather than the past.
He said his decision to defect was driven by the interests of the people and not personal ambition.
“The move is to bring jobs for the jobless and create business opportunities for entrepreneurs. It is about service, commitment, and delivering results with discipline and patriotism,” the governor said.
Kefas thanked the APC leadership for accepting him into the party, saying he had been handed the broom to sweep away division, poverty, tribalism, and insecurity in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kefas was elected governor of Taraba State on the platform of the PDP in the 2023 governorship election before defecting to the APC in 2025.
