Tension has erupted within the Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as long-standing party members strongly oppose the proposed automatic endorsement of Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, the immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, as the new APC Chairman.
Bawa, who formally resigned from the PDP yesterday, is being touted by some political actors for swift elevation to a top leadership position within the APC.
However, the move has sparked outrage among majority party stakeholders, who insist that the chairmanship cannot be handed to a fresh defector at the expense of loyal party faithful.
According to the aggrieved APC members, endorsing Bawa for the top seat immediately after crossing over would be “a slap in the face of those who built the party from scratch, defended it during its toughest battles, and remained faithful through multiple election cycles.”
They argue that party leadership positions, especially the chairmanship, must remain the preserve of dedicated members whose loyalty has been tested over time, not individuals who join the party at the moment of political convenience.
Sources within the party say internal consultations are underway as tensions rise, with senior APC figures expected to meet in the coming days to address the widening discontent and provide clarity on the future of the party’s leadership structure.
For now, the proposed automatic endorsement of Bawa has deepened divisions, setting the stage for a major internal showdown that may shape the APC’s direction in Taraba State.
