By Callistus Agwaza in Jalingo
JALINGO (PRECISE POST) – After over Two decades of smooth sail and reign in Taraba State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State may be on the verge of a major upset that could possibly collapse the party.
The State Governor Agbu Kefas, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzana, member of the State House of Assembly as well as other stakeholders may be defecting from the party before the 2027 general elections.
Investigation by Daily Sun also shows that a serving Senator in the State may be decamping to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) with his supporters and other key stakeholders in a matter of days.
Our source, a Chieftain of the PDP, who spoke in confidence said that “the days of PDP are sadly coming to an end in Taraba State as we speak. This is not just about Taraba. It is a national issue. We are aware of what happened in Delta State. For a Vice Presidential candidate of the party in the last elections, who should be the father of the party in the State left for the APC alongside the State Governor and almost all others.
“We also have a situation where the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has come out to say that he will vote the presidential candidate of the APC. That shows that he is also on the way out. What this simply means is that, the PDP is literally going into extinction.
“And so what do you expect? We just have to go with the trend. As we speak, I am sure the talks are already underway at some levels to create a conducive environment for the accommodation of the governor and the entire structure of the party. It is just a matter of time before this happens. In the meantime you will see pickets of defections in the days ahead before the major mega defection that is coming”.
However the SA Media and Digital communication to the State Governor Mr Emmanuel Bello has denied the possibility of the governor preparing to move to the opposition and said the governor only has a good working relationship with the opposition APC in the overall interest of the State.
“I am worried when people make such speculations. What were they expecting? That the governor should tread a war path with the opposition just because of party difference? Remember that the governor is for every Taraban, irrespective of tribe, religion, region or political leanings. What is most important is to drive development. The time for politics is over and now is time for governance and so it must be treated with utmost seriousness. We can not afford to trivialise governance with issues as inconsequential as politics. The time for politics will definitely come and we’ll still do politics but for now, governance is the priority.
“Gone are those days a governor will sit and stop someone bringing development to the state just because they are in the opposition. Any development anyone brings to any part of Taraba State is for the good of the same people he is governing and he embraces it. So he told them that now that elections are over, what can we do for the good of the State? If you have anything to bring to the growth of the State, bring it. I don’t want you to run away from your State. Imagine a state where the Governor and the minister or other Senators or elected officials are at war. Will anything good come out of it? It’ll be unnecessary distraction. So it is not romance per say and the governor is not preparing any ground for defection as you implied. It is a working relationship that is in the overall best interest of the State and the people” Bello said emphatically.
The opposition APC in the has denied knowledge of ongoing talks about defection at the State level but said there is the probability that such talks could be holding at the higher level.
Spokesperson of the APC in the State Mr Aaron Artimas told Daily Sun exclusively that the party is open to welcome anyone as the party is for Nigerians and is open for all.
“Well, I can tell you that there is no such talks at the State level. However, these talks usually take place at the national levels and our own is to welcome them when the talks are completed. So I don’t know if the talks are holding at that level but it is entirely very possible.
“The State has been in the opposition for long and it will be in the best interest of the State to finally be on the same page with the ruling party. For us, the APC is for all Nigerians and we would welcome everyone who sees reasons to join us”.
When our Correspondent ask if such influx would not create chaos in the APC, Artimas said that “it is not about individual interests. The party is big enough to accommodate all. The major aim is to provide good governance and if that is what is brought to the table, we will embrace it”.
The PDP took over power in Taraba State at the return to democratic rule in 1999 and has held unto leadership since then. However, during the second tenure of the former governor Darius Ishaku, the party became very shaky, witnessing the defection of some key stakeholders to the opposition in a move many believed will cost the party the 2023 general elections.
However, internal wranglings within the APC in the conspired to give the PDP yet another victory. Following recent efforts by the opposition APC to put its house together ahead of the 2023 general elections, it is becoming increasingly clear that the PDP’s chances at winning the next elections are very slim.
The minister of State Regional Development Alhaji Uba Maigari recently told journalists that the APC will definitely take over Taraba in 2027 as the PDP no longer stand a chance.
However, there is high concern about a possible implosion in the APC in the State with such mass high powered influx of new members as people are already preparing grounds to actualise their ambitions under the platform in 2027 and may be forced to drop their ambitions to make room for the new members.
Clearly, the days ahead will define, not just the date of the PDP in Taraba but also the future of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
