A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governorship candidate, David Sabo Kente, has turned down an offer by his supporters to purchase the party’s nomination form on his behalf ahead of the 2027 Taraba state governorship race, saying the move would be “premature” and inconsistent with ongoing political consultations.
Kente made the clarification on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Wukari local government council of the state, where political associates drawn from all 16 local government areas gathered in what was widely seen as an endorsement platform for his possible candidacy.
The gathering, which reportedly attracted over 300 delegates including current and former party officials, also served as a review forum on the evolving political landscape in the state.
While expressing appreciation for the show of support, Kente stressed that the timing was not right for any formal declaration or acceptance of financial backing for nomination forms. He said political decisions must respect fairness and the established principle of power rotation within the state.
According to him, the Southern senatorial zone has held the governorship position for over a decade with the support of both the Central and Northern zones, warning that it would be “insensitive” to seek an extension beyond the expected rotation cycle.
“It will be insensitive for us to begin to push for another possible eight years,” he said, adding that consultations were still ongoing with stakeholders across and outside the state before any final decision is made.
The meeting also featured strong criticism of the administration of Agbu Kefas, with several speakers accusing the state government of marginalising long standing APC members in political appointments. Some participants alleged that loyal party members who contributed to the growth of the APC were being sidelined in favour of newer entrants.
They warned that continued exclusion could push aggrieved stakeholders to consider alternative political alignments ahead of future elections, while calling for a more equitable distribution of appointments between old and new party members to strengthen internal cohesion.
Kente urged party supporters to remain united and intensify grassroots mobilisation, particularly in the ongoing voter registration exercise, noting that electoral success would depend largely on turnout and participation.
He also reaffirmed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that sustained backing for the federal administration would help consolidate national development efforts.
Reiterating his political stance, Kente said consultations were still underway, even as pressure continues to mount from different groups urging him to join the 2027 governorship contest.
He also criticised the style of governance in the state, describing it as resembling “a sole administrator presiding over a democratic system.”
