ABUJA, Nigeria — Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas on Wednesday rejected claims that he and other governors who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were financially induced, insisting his decision was based on “conviction” and what he described as development-focused calculations for the state.
Kefas spoke to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja—his first widely reported post-defection engagement at the State House—where he said speculation about “cash-for-defection” was unfounded. “Nobody gave me money to defect to the APC,” he was quoted as saying. The governor also dismissed rumours of a strained relationship with elder statesman and former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), describing Danjuma as a “father” and saying there was no fallout arising from his political realignment. Kefas said he had informed Danjuma ahead of the move and sought his blessing.
Kefas’ switch has been closely watched because Taraba has largely been governed by the PDP since 1999. Nigerian Tribune earlier reported that Kefas publicly registered with the APC in Jalingo at the T.Y. Danjuma House and said a larger formal reception would follow. Subsequent reports in late January said Kefas was officially received into the APC at a high-profile event attended by national party leaders and federal officials.
On Wednesday, Kefas said his discussion with Tinubu focused on security, agriculture and welfare issues and described the engagement as “meaningful,” arguing it would deepen cooperation between Taraba and the Federal Government. He also expressed confidence that he could “deliver” Taraba for Tinubu in 2027, pointing to what he described as improvements in security and governance outcomes since taking office.
The defection has triggered political aftershocks at home. Local reporting has described a reshaping of Taraba’s political configuration, with APC leaders portraying the move as a major boost while opposition figures and critics frame it as opportunistic. Analysts say the next major test will be whether Kefas can maintain cohesion across Taraba’s diverse political blocs and translate his new ruling-party alignment into tangible federal support—especially on rural security and agricultural value-chain investments that remain key voter issues ahead of the 2027 cycle.
