Taraba APC at crossroads as 2027 governorship battle heats up

Tensions are mounting within the Taraba state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as efforts to impose a consensus arrangement for elective positions continue to face stiff resistance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The crisis, which has affected both state and federal legislative ticket aspirations, has now escalated around the party’s governorship race, exposing deep divisions among key stakeholders.

At the center of the unfolding political battle is the incumbent governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, who is seeking a second term under the APC platform.

His ambition, however, is facing strong opposition from two prominent contenders , philanthropist Chief David Sabo Kente and former Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo.

Party insiders say intense political negotiations and behind-the-scenes consultations are ongoing as the state leadership pushes for a consensus candidate in a bid to avoid a divisive primary election.

In what observers described as a crucial move to calm rising tensions within the party, governor Kefas on Friday night held a closed door meeting with Chief David Sabo Kente.

Sources familiar with the meeting said the discussion centered on efforts to reconcile aggrieved factions and persuade Kente to reconsider his opposition to the proposed consensus arrangement backing the governor’s reelection bid.

The meeting came shortly after Kente’s formal declaration in Wukari, where he openly rejected earlier consensus overtures and called for a transparent and credible selection process for the party’s governorship candidate.

Meanwhile, former Transportation Minister Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has maintained a firm stance against the consensus option, insisting that only direct primaries can guarantee fairness and credibility in the emergence of the party’s candidate.

Sambo has reportedly intensified consultations across the state, urging party members in all 168 electoral wards to mobilize support for his ambition ahead of the primaries.

Political analysts say the outcome of the ongoing negotiations between governor Kefas and Kente may ultimately determine whether the Taraba APC can maintain internal unity or descend into a fiercely contested and unpredictable governorship primary.