The Senator representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His letter of defection was read by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session during plenary on Tuesday.
Jarigbe’s defection brings the number of APC senators to 77.
Meanwhile, Governor Agbu Kefas’s anticipated defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stirred intense political debate in Taraba State, with many insiders viewing the move as a calculated attempt to neutralise powerful contenders such as Chief David Sabo Kente before the 2027 governorship race.
Political observers say the defection, already the subject of consultations between PDP and APC stakeholders in Abuja and Taraba, could drastically reshape Taraba’s political terrain.
Report suggests that agreements have been reached to grant automatic tickets to the governor and serving legislators, a development that could leave many long-time APC members sideline
“If this deal stands, it would mean that Kefas and other PDP defectors would have an open field, leaving committed APC members like Chief Kente without a level playing ground,” said Emmanuel James, an APC supporter in Ibi.
James added that “The governor is running into the APC to secure his political future, not necessarily to strengthen the party.”
Within APC circles, the development has triggered unease, especially among those who have long invested in building the party’s grassroots base.
Many members fear that Kefas’s entry could distort the internal balance of power and jeopardise the chances of loyal party men ahead of the 2027 primaries.
James Jonah, a politician in southern Taraba said there is already a growing suspicion in the APC that Governor Kefas move was to block Kente from getting the ticket of APC during the primaries.
Another APC loyalist, Dauda Bello argued that Kefas’s move, though politically strategic, could breed resentment.
“We have people like David Sabo Kente and Sani Danladi who sustained this party with their resources for years. If Kefas joins now and takes over, it will definitely cause a crisis,” he said.
Another party stalwart, Victor Lawal, described Kente, who is a sibling of Kefas’ political adviser, Josiah Kente, as a “formidable force” in Taraba politics whose influence extends beyond the APC.
“Kente’s grassroots support has always given the PDP sleepless nights,” Lawal said. “He’s been consistent, investing in the people through his DSK Foundation, and many view him as the natural candidate to lead APC in 2027.”
Both Kefas and Kente hail from Wukari Local Government in southern Taraba, where the governorship has been domiciled for over a decade.
Political analysts note that the southern zone is expected to complete its two-term cycle in 2027, making the region’s political rivalry even more intense, the report said.
