Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has formally joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), having registered and collected the party’s membership card. The registration took place yesterday at the Hospital Ward, Wukari Local Government Area of the state, overseen by the ward chairman, Umaru Tanko. Following his registration, Governor Kefas assured residents of his commitment to transforming the state, operating an all-inclusive government, and delivering more dividends of democracy to the people.

A new date for his ceremonial reception into the APC is expected to be announced soon. The governor’s initial plan for a ceremonial defection to the APC on November 19, 2025, was suspended due to the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State. Governor Kefas expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome extended by APC executives and members across the state, highlighting that this gesture reflects unity and cooperation within the party.

This political development has sparked reactions within Taraba State’s political landscape, with stakeholders viewing it as a significant part of ongoing political realignments in anticipation of future engagements. Governor Kefas’s defection follows a broader trend of high-profile exits from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent months. Notably, the Speaker of the Taraba Assembly, John Kizito, and 15 other members had previously left the PDP for the APC. They cited internal crises within the PDP at both local and national levels, as well as the imperative to align Taraba with the centre, as reasons for their defection.

The pattern of defections extends beyond Taraba, with several other governors making similar moves. In November, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri transitioned from the PDP to the APC, a move that followed weeks of speculation and signaled a major political shift in the South-South region. His decision mirrored earlier defections by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, all of whom joined the APC earlier in the year.