By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
A coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Taraba State has purchased nomination forms for David Sabo Kente and urged him to contest the 2027 governorship election, citing widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration.
The group, which includes Kente’s political organisation, made the announcement on Saturday during a press conference in Abuja addressed by former APC State Secretary, Godwin Villannah.
According to the coalition, party leaders and supporters from all 16 local government areas had unanimously endorsed Kente at a meeting in Wukari in April 2026. Although Kente reportedly declined an earlier offer to fund his nomination forms, the coalition described his candidacy as “compelling” and necessary to “rescue” the state.
The stakeholders expressed regret over their support for Governor Agbu Kefas in the last election, claiming their backing was based on expectations of good governance that have not been met.
“The expectations of all those who worked for the victory of Governor Agbu Kefas was that he will deliver the dividends of democracy and work for the development of the state.
“Unfortunately, what we have witnessed for the last three years is terribly disappointing. Rather than dividends of democracy, it has been failed promises without any tangible development to show. This is so even with the quantum of resources that had flown into the state within the period under review.
They accused the governor of failing to deliver tangible development, sidelining long-standing APC members, and awarding political appointments largely to those who defected with him from the opposition.
“It is indeed no longer news that Governor Kefas, since his defection to the APC, has been running the affairs of the party like his personal estate thereby sidelining the stakeholders and Chieftains of APC who had invested their personal resources to build the party over the years.These group of APC leaders were neglected and excluded from the affairs of the party in the State.
The coalition also criticised the pace and quality of infrastructure projects, particularly road construction, and questioned the impact of the governor’s foreign trips, which they said had yet to attract promised investments.
“You may recall that on the 14th and 15th of April, 2026. APC stalwarts, including some notable stakeholders and
DSK political organisation drawn from the 16 local government areas of the State met in Wukari and unanimously endorsed Chief David Sabo Kente to contest in forthcoming Governorship election in Taraba State come 2027.
“The group, at the end of the two days meeting, resolved to contribute money to purchase both the Intent/Nomination forms for him to enable him to come and rescue Taraba State. Though Chief Kente turned down the offer, but we deemed it very compelling and indeed necessity that Chief Kente should heed the calls from the overwhelming number of people of Taraba State and come out to rescue the state from misgovernance and the embarrassing level of underdevelopment.
Despite their grievances, the group called for internal democracy within the APC, demanding a level playing field during the party’s primaries. They expressed confidence in Kente’s leadership experience and electoral appeal, urging him to seize what they described as a pivotal moment for Taraba’s political and economic transformation.
“Governor Agbu Kefas has closed his ears to the cries of APC members who have demanded for equal power sharing opportunities especially in appointments between the old and new members of the party, arguing that the present appointees of the present administration were all those who accompanied the Governor from the PDP.
“It is also very disappointing that the first road the governor has commissioned in three years is the Ibi/Nwonyo 5km road, which is an eyesore. The promised Wukari Flyover, township roads, and International Stadium are all mere dreams without any feasible way forward. The Jalingo township roads he announced he was going to carry out through military engineers have remained worse than he met them three years ago. This is similar to so many other pronouncements that he has made across the state.
“The several foreign trips embarked upon by the governor have yielded no results as the much talked about foreign investments is still a mirage. Perhaps the governor was just using state funds for his own personal investments around the world – they said.
According to the Coalition, developments emanating across the political spectrum, it is our firm believe that Chief David Sabo Kente possessed the required skills, knowledge and wide acceptability across the state to give APC an easy win in the general elections.
“Beyond winning elections, we believe he has continually demonstrated statesmanship and leadership abilities through his ventures to move Taraba State to the next level.
“We are being given a new opportunity by our democratic process to have a new management that can transform Taraba and bring happy days back to all; rich and poor, male and female, urban and rural; young and old.
“We must seize this opportunity, and our party must create a level playing field for all who are seeking the governorship ticket of our great party. It must allow party members to participate and make informed decisions during the primaries.
“It is a statement of fact that the present administration of Governor Kefas has already mortgaged Taraba State and has nothing to show for all the billions of Naira that has accrued to the state in the past three years. Every Taraban that has the interest of the state at heart should be concerned about misgovernance and the glaring misappropriation of funds in the state.
“In the light of the above we are therefore prevailing on Chief David Sabo Kente to answer the call by the people of Taraba State to embark on this very important rescue mission and accept to contest for the exalted position of the Governor of the State – the Coalition added.