Breaking: Another PDP Governor to Join APC, Aide Confirms
- Taraba state governor, Agbu Kefas, has reportedly finalised plans to dump the PDP and defect to the ruling APC
- Josiah Kente, special adviser on political matters and special duties to the governor, announced the development in a statement
- The governor's adviser explained the rationale behind Kefas's move amid concerns over rising defections ahead of the 2027 election
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba state is reportedly set to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). His special adviser on political matters and special duties, Josiah Kente, confirmed the development on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
According to Kente, the governor's plan to align with the ruling APC was a strategic move towards ensuring the inclusion of the state in national development and federal opportunities.
Source: Twitter
Why Governor Kefas is defecting to APC
According to Vanguard, he argued that the governor's move was not about personal ambition or political gain, but that of "the collective interest" of the people of Taraba. He added that the record of performance of the governor in healthcare, education, and infrastructure needed federal backing.
The governor's aide maintained that Kefas' move was never partisan, but a "collective aspiration of the people of Taraba". He further said it was for sustainable progress, transformational infrastructure and being part of national affairs.
Kente explained that dumping the PDP for the APC at the national level would open the door to more development, most especially federal projects, security cooperation and donor-funded interventions.
4 PDP governors to join APC - report
The aide's confirmation came hours after a report emerged that some PDP governors were plotting to join the camp of the APC, a development which sparked fresh anxiety in the opposition camp.
Political observers and relevant stakeholders had expressed concerns that the move would further weaken the structure of the PDP in the north and affect the future of the party.
Recall that Kefas was one of the PDP governors said to be considering switch to the APC in the report. Other governors mentioned in the report included Plateau, Zamfara and Adamawa, Caleb Mutfwang, Dauda Lawal and Ahmadu Fintiri.
Currently, the PDP, which once governed Nigeria for 16 years since the return of democracy in 1999, now struggles to retain eight of the 36 states in Nigeria. The party previous bragged that it would remain in power for decades but it has faced several setbacks since its defeat by the APC in the 2015 election at the federal level.
Kefas' planned defection also comes amid the allegation and concerns that Nigeria is drifting towards a one-party state as the leading opposition party struggles to retain its strongholds following the tsunami of defection of some of its governors to the ruling party.
Source: Twitter
Analyst speaks on APC fate in 2027
Binzak Azeez, a lawyer, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, maintained that the mass defection may not have much effect on the electorate, adding that people may vote based on personality. He said:
"I am not totally discarding the influence of these prominent politicians. I only feel their local influence in the coming election is being overrated. The factors that currently shape the people's voting patterns in the presidential election are different from the local elections. The people may decide to vote for the APC in their local election and massively do otherwise in the presidential election."
Lamido threatens PDP with a lawsuit
Legit.ng earlier reported that the PDP was threatened with a fresh legal suit by the former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido.
Lamido had visited the PDP secretariat to purchase a form to contest the party's national chairman, but the secretary said he was not aware of the form.
The former governor's move came after the northern PDP stakeholders announced the endorsement of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
