The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with 15 other PDP assembly members. This move has effectively handed total control of the Assembly to the APC.
Bonzena cited the PDP’s factionalisation at the national level as a key reason for his decision, stating, “Our people should not misinterpret this decision of ours. It is for the interest of Taraba.” He emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly and was driven by the collective interest of the state.
The defectors include high-profile members such as Deputy Speaker Hamman Adama Abdullai, Majority Leader Jethro Yakubu, Tafarki Eneme, Akila Nuhu, and Musa Chul, among others. They were warmly received by former Speaker Rt Hon (DCN) Peter Abel Diah, who welcomed them to the APC.
Bonzena described the defection as a “new dawn” for Taraba State and urged residents to continue supporting the government. “We now have all 24 members of the House as APC members,” he said, adding that the move would enable them to better serve the people of Taraba.
Former Speaker Peter Diah praised the defectors, saying, “The House had been generous to us in the past when we were in the minority. Now, with all members on board, we can better align with the vision of President Bola Tinubu and serve the people of Taraba.”
The mass defection has given the APC a clean sweep of the Taraba State House of Assembly, with all 24 seats now held by the party.