President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally reaffirmed a long-debated principle within the All Progressives Congress (APC): that any governor elected on the platform of the ruling party automatically becomes the leader of the party in his or her state.
The declaration, which has far-reaching political implications for states such as Rivers and others grappling with internal party leadership tussles, was made on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The announcement came during the official ceremony welcoming Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, into the APC in Jalingo, the state capital. President Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, used the occasion to send a clear message to party members nationwide on the question of authority and leadership within the APC at the state level.
According to the President, Governor Kefas’ defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) automatically confers on him the position of APC leader in Taraba State. Tinubu stressed that this principle applies uniformly across the country, stating that APC governors are the undisputed leaders of the party in their respective states.
“This is not a symbolic role,” the President said through the Vice President. “It is a responsibility that comes with the mandate of the people and the need to provide direction, unity and stability for the party and the government at the state level.”
Tinubu further pledged the full backing of the Federal Government and the APC leadership to Governor Kefas, noting that his administration aligns with the party’s broader agenda of national development. He commended the Taraba governor for what he described as deliberate efforts to unite the state and manage its ethnic and religious diversity in the interest of peace and progress.
“He is working to harmonise the diversities in the state to attain unity,” Tinubu said, adding that such leadership was crucial at a time when national cohesion and inclusive governance remain top priorities.
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yelwatda, also lauded Kefas’ decision to dump the PDP for the ruling party, describing it as “courageous and timely.” Yelwatda said the governor had wisely chosen to abandon what he called a “sinking PDP” in favour of a party better positioned to deliver dividends of democracy.
According to him, Kefas’ entry into the APC ensures that Taraba State remains “part and parcel of the winning party in 2027.” He assured party members that the APC would provide equal opportunities for both long-standing members and new entrants, dismissing fears of marginalisation among existing party structures.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented at the event by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril, echoed similar sentiments. He noted that the governor’s defection would translate into tangible benefits for Taraba State, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development and security.
Akpabio said aligning with the ruling party at the centre would allow Taraba to “enjoy equal opportunities in all spheres of governance at the national level,” adding that closer cooperation between the state and federal governments would accelerate development projects.
Speaking on his decision, Governor Kefas explained that his defection was driven solely by the interests of the people of Taraba State and not by personal ambition. Elected governor under the PDP in 2023, Kefas officially joined the APC in 2025 after months of political consultations.
“The move is to bring jobs for the jobless and business for entrepreneurs,” the governor said. “It is about serving the state, being committed to the people, and showing results and fulfillment through discipline and patriotism.”
He also expressed gratitude to the APC leadership for accepting him, saying the party had “handed him the broom to sweep away division, poverty, tribalism and insecurity” in Taraba State.
Beyond Taraba, Tinubu’s declaration is already reshaping political calculations in other states, including Rivers, where leadership disputes within the APC have persisted. By clearly stating that APC governors are the party’s leaders in their states, the President has effectively set a standard that could settle internal power struggles and redefine party control ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As the APC consolidates its ranks through high-profile defections and clearer leadership structures, observers say Tinubu’s message signals a renewed push for unity and discipline within the ruling party nationwide.
