Govs who defected to APC remain party leaders in states, Tinubu clarifies
By: Abudu Olalekan
So here’s the thing about Nigerian politics. The second a governor switches sides, everyone starts whispering. What happens to the old party structure? Who’s really in charge now? Well, President Bola Tinubu just put all that speculation to rest. In a clear move, he’s declared that any governor defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) automatically becomes the party leader in that state. No questions asked. It’s a big deal.
This clarification came straight from Jalingo. The occasion was the formal welcome party for Taraba State’s Governor, Agbu Kefas, who just jumped ship from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The VP, Kashim Shettima, stood in for Tinubu and delivered the message loud and clear. By virtue of his defection, Kefas now assumes the leadership of the APC in Taraba. Just like that. It’s a powerful incentive for any sitting governor on the fence, frankly.
Shettima’s speech wove together some interesting threads. He framed Kefas’s move as an act of political wisdom. “Governance is not an act of isolation, but an act of partnership,” he said. The idea being that progress is faster when you’re aligned with the centre, with the ruling party’s “structure.” He painted the APC as a party that grows “by conviction, not compulsion. By inclusion, not exclusion.” You get the theme. It’s all about unity and pulling together.
The personal assurance from Tinubu was also emphasized. Shettima relayed that the President himself wanted Kefas to know his place was secure. In the party, and in the push to develop Taraba. “He has demonstrated that no region is expendable. No state is ornamental,” Shettima added, likely aiming to soothe any regional anxieties about joining up.
Of course, the APC leadership was thrilled. The National Chairman, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda, thanked Kefas for saving Taraba from, in his words, “the sinking PDP.” He called it the governor’s best decision yet, a move to “accelerate progress.” The subtext here is pretty obvious. They’re not just welcoming a member; they’re celebrating a trophy. A sitting governor is a huge catch.
But why did Kefas do it? His own explanation tried to rise above mere political gamesmanship. He said it wasn’t about “playing politics or dwelling in the past.” He claimed it was a decision “for the youth, for infrastructure, for the elders.” To move Taraba into the centre and directly benefit from federal policies. He commended the state’s security operatives too, which was a interesting side note. A nod to stability, perhaps.
Other APC governors chimed in with support. The Governor of Ekiti, representing the Progressive Governors’ Forum, echoed the sentiment that joining the “progressives” was the only way to attract real democratic dividends. It’s a well-rehearsed chorus by now.
So what does this all mean? Tinubu’s rule simplifies the often messy integration of a defecting governor. It grants immediate authority, likely to streamline power and avoid internal party squabbles in the new state. For Governor Kefas, it’s a promise of influence both locally and in the federal corridor. For the APC, it’s a narrative of expansion and inevitable growth. They’re building a story, one governor at a time.
But it also raises questions, doesn’t it? What happens to the existing APC state chairman and structures that held the fort for years? The announcement smooths over that tension from the top, but the real test will be on the ground. Can a new leader seamlessly take the reins? That’s the part they don’t talk about at the welcome reception. The real work starts tomorrow. For now, though, the message is unambiguous: cross over, and you’re instantly in charge. That’s the new rule.
