A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governorship candidate in Taraba State, Chief David Sabo Kente, on Wednesday turned down the request of his supporters to purchase forms for him to contest the seat of the Governor in 2027.
Our Correspondent reports that representatives of supporters of the partyman and political associates of Chief David Sabo Kente, a political organization across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State had on Wednesday gathered in Wukari to endorse Chief Kente and go ahead to purchase the nomination form for him from their pocket to run for the office of the Governor in 2027.
Kente, however, turned down the request and offer, noting that the essence of the meeting was for the forum to review where they were coming from and chart a way forward, including a review of the performance of the government at the State level.
Over 300 delegates, including some former and new state officials of the party from the 16 local government areas, who converged on Wukari, expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the administration of Dr. Agbu Kefas.
Most of the speakers at the meeting argued that old members of the party were sidelined by the Kefas administration, while Chieftains of APC who had invested their personal resources to build the party over the years were being neglected and excluded from the affairs of the party in the State.
The forum warned that members of APC in the state may be compelled to support any candidate of their choice if the party in the state fails to carry them along.
Other speakers at the forum demanded equal power-sharing in appointments between the old and new members of the party, arguing that the appointees of the present administration were all those who accompanied the Governor from the PDP.
Kente, during the meeting, appreciated the gesture but noted that the Central and Northern zones have allowed the Southern zone to occupy the Jalingo Government House for twelve years, and the zone is expected to complete sixteen years before another power shift.
“So it will be insensitive for us to start seeking another possible eight years”, he stressed. I am still making serious consultations with various stakeholders from within and outside the state before I take my next line of action.”
He therefore urged the people to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win the forthcoming general elections so as to consolidate on the developmental programs he is bringing to bear.
“I am an advocate of togetherness as well as social and political justice. That is why I want to commend the people of the Central and Northern Zones of the State for supporting the Southern part in governing for eight years under Darius Ishaku and now for an additional four years under Dr. Agbu Kefas.
“Since we from the Southern zone have enjoyed the support of both Central and Northern zones, it is only fair that we should also support them and prove that we value our togetherness as a State,” he said.
He urged the forum to channel energy towards mobilizing the people for the ongoing E-registration and to encourage them to mobilize their various communities to register, since elections are a product of numbers, and the quantity of votes will decide who will lead or provide leadership.
Our Correspondent further reports that calls have been coming from various political groups urging Chief David Sabo Kente to run for the office of the Governor of Taraba State in 2027.
However, the Chieftain had argued that, although he was among those instrumental in the election of the incumbent governor, Agbu Kefas, he was consulting on the next course of action, whether to contest or not.
According to Chief Kente,” what is happening in Taraba State is suggestive of a sole administrator presiding over the affairs of a state under a democratically elected government,” he said.
Chief Kente has been called by three groups in the State on various occasions to contest the 2027 general elections against the incumbent governor, who hails from the same local government area, but he has maintained that he would conduct wider consultations to determine his next line of action.
Investigations revealed that many Tarabans are not happy with the performance of the government of Dr. Agbu Kefas, describing him as “Father Promise and Fail”.
