Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, has called for the adoption of a consensus approach in the forthcoming primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging party stakeholders to prioritise unity and cohesion.
The governor made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the EXCO Chambers of TY Danjuma House in Jalingo, where discussions centred on the mode of election to be adopted ahead of the party’s primaries.
Addressing party leaders, Kefas emphasised the need for broad consultations across the three political zones of the state. He urged stakeholders to return to their constituencies, engage widely, and work towards producing consensus candidates for elective positions within five days.
He commended the existing unity within the party, noting that it has contributed significantly to its growth in the state. The governor also assured members that issues arising from recent party congresses were being addressed.
Kefas stressed the importance of peaceful engagement among aspirants, warning against actions capable of creating divisions within the party. He encouraged aspirants to accommodate one another and pursue their ambitions with a spirit of cooperation, reiterating that politics should not be approached as a “do-or-die” affair. He also conveyed goodwill messages from Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his remarks, the state APC Chairman, Abubakar Bawa, assured aspirants of a level playing field where consensus could not be reached. He urged strict compliance with guidelines for the purchase and submission of expression of interest and nomination forms.
The meeting later went into a closed-door session and was attended by former senators, members of the National and State Assemblies, the Minister of State for Regional Development, senior party officials, and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the APC governorship race in Taraba is shaping up with multiple contenders, including the incumbent, Agbu Kefas, who is seeking re-election; Chief David Sabo Kente; Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji; and Engineer Sale Mamman.
In other parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) currently has Alhaji Abubakar Tutare and Professor Sani Yahya as aspirants, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is, for now, fielding Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
