Politics
TINUBU WELCOMES TARABA GOVERNOR KEFAA INTO APC, PLEDGES STRONGER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged a stronger development partnership with Taraba State following the formal defection of Governor Agbu Kefas and his supporters to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President at a grand reception in Jalingo on Saturday, described Taraba State as strategic to Nigeria’s food and energy security, assuring the governor of his full place within the ruling party and a continued development-focused relationship with the Federal Government.
Shettima said President Tinubu had directed him to formally welcome Governor Kefas into the APC and to reaffirm the administration’s commitment to prioritising the development of Taraba State.
“What makes us different from other political parties is that we believe that nations endure when they learn to recognise their quiet strengths. We believe that Taraba is one of such strengths.
It is a land that feeds, powers, and steadies the nation without demanding applause,” the Vice President said.
Conveying the President’s message, Shettima assured the Taraba governor of inclusion and partnership, stressing that no state or region is expendable under the Tinubu administration.
“My dear brother, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has asked me to assure you of your place not only in the party, but in our continuing relationship to prioritise the development of our people.
He has demonstrated that no region is expendable. No state is ornamental,” he stated.
The Vice President noted that the occasion was not about discovering Taraba’s relevance, but about acknowledging its long-standing role in Nigeria’s unity and stability.“Today, we are not discovering Taraba.
We are just acknowledging what we have always known: its place at the centre of Nigeria’s political stability and future,” he said.
Shettima explained that the APC was established as a unifying platform for Nigeria’s diverse regions, adding that Taraba’s entry into the ruling party further strengthens national convergence.
“The All Progressives Congress was built as a meeting point. A place where regions converge. Where differences find direction. Where ambition is disciplined by purpose,” he said.
According to him, Taraba’s strategic position at the intersection of food and energy security makes its inclusion in the APC particularly significant.
“To have Taraba firmly within this fold is to strengthen that convergence strategically, politically and economically.
Taraba sits where food security meets energy security. Where fertile land meets flowing water. Where mineral wealth meets industrial possibility,” he added.
Welcoming Governor Kefas into the party, Shettima said the governor’s decision reflected a clear understanding of governance as partnership rather than isolation.
“Leadership, at its core, is the courage to align destiny with reality. He understands that governance is not an act of isolation, but an act of partnership. That progress is faster when vision meets structure,” he said.
He added that the defection further demonstrated the APC’s philosophy of growth through inclusion and performance.
“Today also showcases what the APC represents: a party that grows by conviction, not compulsion; by inclusion, not exclusion; by performance, not noise,” Shettima said.
Also speaking at the event, the Senate President, represented by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, congratulated Governor Kefas for what he described as a wise and strategic decision.
“By this decision, progress is brought to the state. This will enhance agriculture, infrastructure and the economy of Taraba State,” Barau said, adding that the National Assembly fully supports the governor’s move.
National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, thanked Governor Kefas for leaving what he described as the “sinking PDP,” noting that aligning with the ruling party at the centre would accelerate development and prosperity in Taraba State.
“The best thing is to align with the centre so that all the good things and policies happening at that level will come to Taraba State,” Yilwatda said.
In his remarks, Governor Kefas commended security agencies in the state for their efforts in maintaining peace and safety, explaining that his decision to join the APC was driven by purpose rather than political ambition.
He said while some may interpret his defection as perversion or ambition, the move was made in the interest of the youth, infrastructure development, elders and the overall progress of Taraba State.
According to him, Taraba must align with the centre to fully benefit from the policies and programmes of the current Federal Government.
Also speaking, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who represented the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, said Governor Kefas made the right decision by joining the APC to attract dividends of democracy in agriculture, infrastructure and other critical sectors.
Politics
2027 Shake-Up: Kogi Governor Allegedly Double-Dealing, Campaigns for Opposition in Mopamuro
In a development sending shockwaves through Kogi State politics, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has been accused of orchestrating support for opposition candidates, raising fresh questions about his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to an APC chieftain in Mopamuro Local Government Area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the governor directed his political appointees led by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo to campaign for ADC’s Hon. Leke Abejide in his bid for a third term in the House of Representatives.
Eyewitnesses said the rally saw appointees don T-shirts and caps celebrating APC achievements but without any party logos, creating confusion about their political stance.
Many APC faithful reportedly resisted participating, with some sustaining minor injuries after falling off vehicles during the walk.
Following the event, appointees from Mopamuro were allegedly summoned to a meeting where they were given an ultimatum: support the ADC candidate or resign.
The insider claimed this move undermines the rotational arrangement in Yagba Federal Constituency, where Mopamuro is expected to produce the next representative.
“It is astonishing that a sitting governor would order his own appointees to campaign for a candidate of another party,” the source said. “It smacks of double-dealing and raises serious questions about his political intentions.”
Attempts to reach Governor Ododo and Commissioner Fanwo for comment were unsuccessful.
Political analysts warn that if these claims are substantiated, they could spark internal crises within APC and reshape the electoral landscape in Kogi State ahead of 2027.
The Lagos State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has distanced itself from a lawsuit currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, stating that it neither authorised nor endorsed the legal action.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the party’s state leadership clarified that the suit, reportedly filed on behalf of ADC state chairmen and executive committees nationwide, does not represent the position of the Lagos chapter.
State Chairman Gbenga Asiru said the chapter was not consulted prior to the filing of the case and did not grant approval to any individual or group to act on its behalf.
“The action represents the personal position of the named plaintiffs and does not reflect the stance of ADC Lagos State,” the statement read.
The chapter reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy, the rule of law, and unity within the party, stressing that while individuals have the right to seek judicial interpretation, such actions must not be portrayed as collective decisions.
ADC Lagos added that it remains focused on strengthening its internal structures and advancing the interests of its members and supporters.
The Labour Party (LP) has scheduled May 23, 2026, for its presidential primaries as part of early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the timetable approved by NEC, the party will submit its membership register on April 15, while primaries for governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly positions are slated for May 15.
The council also ratified actions taken by the party’s leadership under Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwochocha. These include the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses scheduled for March 26, 28, and 31, respectively, as well as the national convention fixed for April 11.
NEC reviewed recent developments within the party, particularly the invasion of its national secretariat by suspected hoodlums, allegedly backed by “rogue elements,” describing the incident as a grave violation of party order.
“Following a detailed review of the report and recommendations of the Peace, Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee,” the communiqué stated, “NEC exercised its disciplinary authority and approved the suspension of members involved in acts of indiscipline, anti-party activities, and complicity in the desecration of the party’s national secretariat.”
The party further disclosed plans to expand its membership register through a hybrid system that combines digital and manual processes. It noted that the initiative is aimed at modernising its database, strengthening internal democracy, and improving transparency and efficiency in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
To maintain continuity, NEC resolved that all existing vacancies within party structures would be filled through interim appointments. It added that such positions would be occupied in an acting capacity pending the conduct of substantive congresses.
The council also urged members to adopt internal dispute resolution mechanisms to safeguard unity as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.