A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Taraba State, Chief David Kente, has urged governor Agbu Kefas to urgently unite long standing members of the party with recent defectors to prevent internal crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kente made the call on Monday while addressing journalists in Jalingo, noting that although the APC in the state has recorded massive defections from other political parties, it has continued to enjoy relative peace.
He described governor Kefas as the leader of the party in Taraba State and appealed to him to accelerate the process of assimilation and ensure inclusiveness in party affairs.
“We have witnessed massive defections into the APC and, so far, there is relative peace among both old and new members. However, those who have come in and taken over party structures should be magnanimous and make the party all-inclusive. Otherwise, there could be implosion, which is more dangerous than an open crisis,” he said.
He warned that internal conflicts could be catastrophic for the party and stressed the need to harmonise all interests to enable the APC approach future elections as a united force.
Kente also cautioned party members allegedly fueling disunity to desist, adding that the party would not hesitate to invoke appropriate disciplinary measures against those undermining internal cohesion.
He observed that some party loyalists who made sacrifices to ensure the emergence of the current administration had not been adequately carried along, but expressed optimism that the situation could still be resolved through reconciliation.
“There is still room for improvement. If we work as a team, we can overcome these challenges. But if we fail to do so, we will continue to have issues,” he said.
The APC chieftain accused some politicians of deliberately promoting disunity out of fear and personal ambition, stressing that political aspirations should be pursued through democratic processes rather than conflict.
“Ambition can be achieved through democratic means, not by creating division and instability within the party,” Kente stated.
He further warned against attempts to sideline old party members, saying such actions could trigger serious crises within the APC in Taraba State.
According to him, many party members worked for the emergence of Governor Kefas and should not be marginalized.
“Any attempt to displace members will be resisted, as some people are prepared to seek legal redress to protect their interests,” he said.
Kente, who hails from the same local government area as the governor, said the APC should ordinarily be united behind Kefas but cautioned that continued exclusion of some members could result in multiple aspirants contesting elective positions in future elections.
“If the governor can rally everyone together, he will have an easy sail. But if people feel excluded, many aspirants, including those from Wukari, may contest various positions, including the governorship,” he warned.
He also disclosed that his own governorship ambition was growing, recalling that the APC national leadership had indicated that future party primaries would be open, with no automatic tickets for incumbents.
Kent also called for consensus building within the party as preparations for the next electoral cycle commence, while commending President Bola Tinubu for what he described as significant strides in economic stability and improvements in security across the country.