By John Umeh
Taraba State is bracing for a major political realignment as Governor Agbu Kefas has confirmed that he will officially defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, November 19. The governor disclosed the development while speaking with journalists on Saturday, describing the move as a significant step for the future of the state.
Kefas, who was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, said his decision was guided by what he views as the broader interests and destiny of the Taraba people. He hinted that the defection ceremony would draw a large crowd, reflecting the weight of the political transition.
“There will be a major shift on November 19,” he announced. “I will be formally moving from the PDP to the APC. This is more than a personal decision—it’s a movement tied to the destiny and progress of Taraba State.”
Kefas joins a growing list of PDP governors who have crossed over to the ruling APC in 2025, marking a worrying trend for the opposition party. Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) have all made similar moves this year, reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
Governor Kefas secured his mandate in the 2023 governorship election with 257,926 votes, defeating NNPP’s Muhammad Yahaya and APC’s Emmanuel Bwacha. His defection is particularly significant because Taraba has been a strong PDP stronghold since the return of democracy in 1999.
With this shift, the political map of the North-East and the future of the PDP in the region are expected to come under renewed scrutiny.
