President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that governors elected or admitted on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) automatically become leaders of the party in their respective states, reinforcing the party’s internal structure amid rising political realignments.
The President made the declaration on Saturday during the official reception of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, into the APC in Jalingo, the state capital. Tinubu was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
According to the President, Governor Kefas’ defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formally positions him as the leader of the APC in Taraba State, in line with the party’s constitution and long-standing practice.
Tinubu assured the governor of the Federal Government’s support, noting that Taraba stands to benefit significantly from alignment with the ruling party at the centre.
He commended Kefas for promoting unity across Taraba’s ethnic and religious divides, describing inclusivity as a critical foundation for sustainable development. The President urged residents of the state to rally behind the governor to ensure peace, stability, and progress.
The President also welcomed the defection as a strategic boost for the APC in the North-East, expressing confidence that the party’s growing influence would extend to neighbouring states, including Adamawa and Bauchi.
Earlier, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, described Kefas’ decision as courageous, saying the governor made the right choice by leaving what he termed a “declining PDP” for the APC.
Yilwatda said the move would unlock new economic opportunities for Taraba, particularly for youths and women, and strengthen the state’s integration into the APC’s national development agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He assured party members of equal rights and opportunities, urging Governor Kefas to foster unity, reconcile interests, and strengthen party cohesion within the state.
Also speaking, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril, said the defection would accelerate infrastructure development and improve security in Taraba through increased federal collaboration.
In his remarks, Governor Agbu Kefas described the defection as a turning point for Taraba’s future, stressing that the decision was driven by collective interest rather than personal ambition.
“This move is about jobs for the jobless, opportunities for entrepreneurs, and disciplined, result-oriented governance,” Kefas said.
He thanked the APC leadership for welcoming him into the party, symbolically receiving the party’s broom, which he said would be used to sweep away division, poverty, tribalism, and insecurity in the state.
Governor Kefas was elected on the PDP platform in the 2023 governorship election and formally defected to the APC in 2025, where he has since obtained his membership card.
Defection: APC Governors Automatically Lead Party in Their States — Tinubu
