Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has pledged closer cooperation with Taraba State following the decision of its governor, Agbu Kefas, to leave the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and join the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move was formally announced at a public event in Jalingo on Saturday, where senior figures from the federal government and the ruling party described Taraba as strategically important to national food production, energy development and political stability.

Representing the president, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Mr Tinubu had directed him to reassure the governor that his administration would work closely with Taraba State on development priorities.

He described Taraba as a state with long-standing economic and strategic relevance, pointing to its agricultural output, water resources and mineral potential.

“This is not about discovering Taraba,” Mr Shettima said. “It is about recognising a role the state has played for a long time in the country’s stability and future.”

Federal backing and political realignment

Mr Shettima said the APC had been established as a platform intended to bring together Nigeria’s diverse regions around shared national objectives, adding that Taraba’s inclusion strengthened cooperation between the state and the federal government.

The vice president stressed that the decision reflected an approach to governance based on partnership rather than isolation, and said President Tinubu viewed no state or region as peripheral to national development.

The event was also attended by senior lawmakers and party leaders. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, speaking on behalf of the Senate President, said the National Assembly supported the governor’s decision, arguing that alignment with the federal government could help accelerate infrastructure development, agriculture and economic growth in the state.

The APC’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, welcomed Mr Kefas into the party, describing the move as an opportunity for Taraba to benefit more directly from federal programmes and policies.

In his remarks, Governor Kefas said his decision to join the APC was motivated by what he described as long-term considerations for the state rather than political ambition.

He said the event had earlier been postponed out of respect for families affected by recent school abductions in parts of northern Nigeria, adding that he could not proceed with celebrations during a period of national mourning.

Addressing supporters, Mr Kefas thanked the PDP for the platform it had provided him, while saying his move to the ruling party was intended to improve access to federal initiatives and investment.

“We did not move because of politics,” he said. “We moved for the future of Taraba.”

He said the state needed to work more closely with the federal government to support youth employment, infrastructure development and security, and described the decision as one taken in the interest of future generations.

Political defections are a recurring feature of Nigeria’s multi-party system, particularly when opposition governors seek closer ties with the federal government in Abuja. Analysts note that such moves often reflect calculations about access to funding, influence and policy coordination rather than ideology.

Taraba, located in Nigeria’s north-east, is widely regarded as an agriculturally rich state with significant untapped energy and mineral resources. Federal officials at the event highlighted these assets as part of the rationale for deeper cooperation.

The ceremony concluded with the formal presentation of the APC flag to Governor Kefas, symbolising his acceptance as leader of the party in the state.

Whether the political shift translates into tangible economic and social gains for Taraba’s residents is likely to be closely watched in the months ahead.