Jalingo (Nigeria): President Bola Tinubu has declared that governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) remain the party’s leaders in their respective states.
Tinubu made this declaration on Saturday at the Official Reception of Gov. Agbu Kefas into the APC in Jalingo.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, represented Tinubu at the event.
Tinubu announced that Gov. Kefas had become the leader of the APC in Taraba. This followed his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
He expressed his determination to support the governor and his cabinet in bringing development to Taraba.
He noted that the governor was making efforts to unite the state and harmonise its diversities to achieve unity.
The president urged the people of the state to rally behind the governor and support him in his efforts to succeed.
He was pleased with the defection of a governor in the North East. He also called on Adamawa and Bauchi to join the party at the centre.
Earlier, Prof. Nentawe Yelwatda, National Chairman of the APC, commended Kefas for being courageous by decamping to the ruling party.
Yelwatda said that Kefas did not make a mistake by leaving the sinking PDP to the APC.
He described the decision as a major achievement that would enable the governor to make the state’s economy and its youth and women more productive.
According to him, the state will now join the winning party in 2027.
He assured all members of the APC, both old and new, of equal opportunities in the party’s activities, advising the governor to stand for everybody as one.
He further urged the governor to unite the party and avoid discrimination.
In his remarks, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, congratulated the people of Taraba and the governor, saying the defection would bring greater development to the state, enhance its infrastructure, and strengthen its security.
Represented by Sen. Barau Jibril, Deputy Senate President, Akpabio said the governor’s decision to defect to the APC would enable the state to enjoy equal opportunities in all spheres of governance at the national level.
Gov. Kefas said the event was to shape the future of Taraba, encouraging all in attendance and everyone not to dwell on the past but to focus on the future.
He said he made this move for the people of Taraba, not for personal interests.“The move is to bring jobs for the jobless and business for entrepreneurs. To serve the state and be committed to the people and show results and fulfilment through discipline and patriotism,” he said.
The governor thanked APC for the opportunity and for entrusting him with the broom to sweep away division, poverty, tribalism, and insecurity.
Kefas won under the PDP in the 2023 governorship election.
He defected to the APC in 2025 and secured his membership registration card.