President Bola Tinubu has declared that governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) remain the recognised leaders of the party in their respective states.

The President made the declaration on Saturday at the official reception of Gov. Agbu Kefas into the APC, held in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital. He was represented at the event by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

Mr. Tinubu announced that, by virtue of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, Gov. Kefas had automatically assumed the leadership of the party in Taraba State. He expressed his determination to support the governor and his cabinet in delivering development to the state.

The President noted that Gov. Kefas had been making deliberate efforts to unite the state and harmonise its diversity in order to achieve lasting unity. He urged the people of Taraba to rally behind the governor and give him the support required to succeed.

Mr. Tinubu also expressed satisfaction with the defection of a sitting governor from the North-East geopolitical zone and called on Adamawa and Bauchi States to align with the party at the centre.

Earlier, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yelwatda, commended Gov. Kefas for what he described as the courage to defect to the ruling party. Prof. Yelwatda said the governor did not make a mistake by leaving what he termed the “sinking” PDP for the APC.

He described the decision as a major achievement that would enable the governor to reposition the state’s economy and make its youth and women more productive. According to him, Taraba would now be fully integrated into what he called the winning party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Prof. Yelwatda assured all APC members, both old and new, of equal opportunities within the party and advised the governor to stand for everyone without discrimination. He further urged Gov. Kefas to unite the party and carry all members along.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, congratulated the people of Taraba State and the governor, stating that the defection would attract more development to the state, enhance infrastructure, and strengthen security.

Represented by the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibril, Mr. Akpabio said the governor’s decision to join the APC would enable Taraba to enjoy equal opportunities in all spheres of governance at the national level.

In his response, Gov. Kefas said the event was aimed at shaping the future of Taraba State, urging those present, and the wider public, not to dwell on the past but to focus on the future.

He said the move was taken in the interest of the people of Taraba, not for personal gain.

“The move is to bring jobs for the jobless and business opportunities for entrepreneurs; to serve the state, remain committed to the people, and deliver results and fulfilment through discipline and patriotism,” he said.

The governor thanked the APC for accepting him and for “handing him the broom to sweep away division, poverty, tribalism, and insecurity”.

Gov. Kefas won the 2023 governorship election on the platform of the PDP. He defected to the APC in 2025 and has since received his party membership registration card.