Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, on Sunday officially registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress, formalising his move to the ruling party.
Kefas was registered by the APC Hospital Ward executive at the Government House in Jalingo, the state capital.
Speaking after his registration and the presentation of his membership card, the governor said that though he had earlier announced the suspension of his official defection ceremony, originally slated for November 19, in solidarity with abducted schoolgirls, he had decided to take the necessary step to enable him to fully take charge of party activities in the state.
“I have already written to the party at the ward level, and today’s exercise is a necessary step to fulfil the basic requirements. You will recall that I earlier suspended my official reception into the party following the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
“Even if the official ceremony had been held, this registration is one of the necessary things we must do. I want to thank my ward party executives and the representatives of the state working committee of the party who are here,” he said.
According to him, the decision was taken in the overall interest of the party and governance in Taraba State, stressing that his alignment with the APC would help deepen cooperation and strengthen the party’s structure in the state.
The governor added that a new date for the official defection ceremony would be communicated to the public at a later time.
Kefas’ official registration comes amid ongoing political realignments in Taraba State, with several political actors repositioning ahead of future elections.
Last month, members of the state executive council, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Izito Benzena, alongside 14 members of the Taraba State House of Assembly, defected to the APC.
Punch