By Yusuf Salihu Sansani, Jalingo
A prominent Jalingo-based Islamic scholar, Dr. Ibrahim Jalo Jalingo, has publicly endorsed Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, for a second term in office, urging residents to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 governorship election.
The cleric, in a statement released in both Hausa and English, described the APC as the most viable political option for Tarabans, arguing that voting for the party would offer the state an opportunity to break away from what he characterised as more than two decades of political oppression and injustice.
In a significant departure from his previous political position, Dr. Jalo also cautioned voters against supporting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which are fielding Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi, popularly known as Danji SS, respectively.
He equally advised the electorate against voting for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), whose governorship candidates are Senator Abubakar Umar Tutare and Professor Yahaya Mohammed Sani Yahya.
Interestingly, Professor Yahaya Mohammed Sani Yahya was the same candidate Dr. Jalo openly supported during the 2023 governorship election, when he publicly mobilised support for his candidacy.
Explaining his latest political position, the Islamic scholar argued that returning to the NDC would amount to repeating political choices that, in his assessment, had failed to deliver the desired transformation for Taraba State over the past two decades.
He stated:
“Choosing NDC would amount to repeating the same political choices Tarabans have made for more than 20 years without achieving the desired result.
“The most appropriate decision in this year’s election is for all our people to exercise further patience and vote for the APC.”
The cleric’s latest declaration represents a notable political twist, particularly against the backdrop of his 2023 endorsement of Professor Yahaya Mohammed Sani Yahya.
His open support for Governor Kefas’ re-election bid, alongside his appeal for voters to rally behind the APC, could add an interesting dimension to the unfolding political realignments ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Taraba State.
For Dr. Jalo, the political direction has changed; the 2027 election, however, will determine whether his new position resonates with the Taraba electorate.
