By Yusuf Salihu Sansani, Jalingo
The Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed speculations that Governor Agbu Kefas has endorsed all serving senators, members of the House of Representatives, and members of the Taraba State House of Assembly as automatic candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with The Story Newspapers in Jalingo, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Aaron Artimas, described the reports as unfounded, insisting that the process of selecting consensus candidates in the state is still ongoing.
Artimas explained that Governor Kefas, in line with democratic principles and the party’s nationwide strategy, constituted three consensus committees to facilitate consultations across the state’s three senatorial zones.
According to him, the committees were established to help determine candidates through dialogue and mutual agreement among aspirants.
He stated that the committees submitted their reports on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, but noted that the reports are still under review by the party leadership and stakeholders before any final decision can be reached.
According to him, the consensus arrangement is intended to reduce the financial burden associated with political campaigns and party primaries while promoting unity within the party.
“If the consensus arrangement succeeds, it will help the party avoid expensive and time-consuming primaries. However, if it fails, the party has no option but to conduct primary elections,” Artimas said.
He further clarified that Governor Kefas has not made any official pronouncement endorsing any candidate for the 2027 elections.
“The party caucus, made up of the governor, senior party officials, and stakeholders, is currently studying the reports submitted by the committees to determine the next line of action. For now, nobody has been anointed.
“People may speculate, but you cannot impose someone against the wishes of the people. If consensus fails, the party will conduct primaries across the local government areas,” he added.
Artimas also reacted to allegations that some members of one of the consensus committees were allegedly supporting a particular senatorial aspirant.
He said he was not aware of such claims but maintained that any committee member openly taking sides or serving as campaign director for an aspirant would be acting contrary to the committee’s mandate.
“The committees were constituted to ensure that candidates emerge through consultation and agreement, not to openly support individual aspirants,” he stressed.
The APC spokesman’s remarks come amid growing reports that Governor Kefas had allegedly endorsed all incumbent lawmakers seeking re-election.
One of the aspirants for the Taraba North Senatorial seat, Kabiru Bello Badawaire, has reportedly rejected any alleged endorsement of the incumbent senator, Shuaibu Lau, insisting that he remains fully in the race.
On the sale of nomination forms, Artimas said he could not confirm the total number of aspirants who had purchased and returned forms for governorship and National Assembly positions, noting that such forms were obtained in Abuja.
He, however, confirmed that all incumbent members of the Taraba State House of Assembly had purchased and returned their forms, alongside some new aspirants contesting various state constituencies.
Commenting on the ongoing voter registration exercise, the APC spokesman urged stakeholders across the state’s local government areas to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that all eligible voters are registered ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also advised party members experiencing difficulties with the APC electronic membership registration portal to register manually pending the restoration of the online platform.
