2027: Ikenya, DSK Might Contest For APC Ticket Fresh political developments are unfolding within the Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as former governorship aspirants Chief David Sabo Kente (DSK) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya — both from the southern zone of the state — have expressed interest in contesting the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. Their renewed political activity comes amid speculation that Governor Agbu Kefas may soon defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC — a move that has continued to cause unease within both political camps particularly in Southern part of the state. Chief Kente said he was surprised by widespread claims linking him to alleged moves by the governor to join the APC. He insisted that he had not been officially informed of such a plan. “Let me clarify that as a critical stakeholder in the APC in Southern Taraba and Wukari Local Government Area, where the gov

Fresh political developments are unfolding within the Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as former governorship aspirants Chief David Sabo Kente (DSK) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya — both from the southern zone of the state — have expressed interest in contesting the party's governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Their renewed political activity comes amid speculation that Governor Agbu Kefas may soon defect from the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC — a move that has continued to cause unease within both political campsparticularly in Southern part of the state.

Chief Kente said he was surprised by widespread claims linking him to alleged moves by the governor to join the APC. He insisted that he had not been officially informed of such a plan.

"Let me clarify that as a critical stakeholder in the APC in Southern Taraba and Wukari Local Government Area, where the governor also comes from, he has not informed me of his decision to join the party. I was surprised when people started accusing me of clearing the ground for his defection," Kentesaid.

He added: "The truth is, he did not and has not informed me of any intention to join the APC. For me, it is still in the realm of rumours. However, the APC is large enough to accommodate everyone. Whether the governor is coming as an asset or liability will be left for party members to decide."

Kente, a philanthropist and long-time political figure in the state, confirmed that he will again seek the APC governorship ticket in 2027, alongside his "elder brother," Senator Joel Ikenya.
"I am aware that my elder brother, Joel Ikenya, will be contesting the election in 2027. I can also confirm that I will be contesting. There is no bad blood between us," he said.

He also dismissed allegations that he was secretly working to facilitate the governor's defection to the ruling party, describing such insinuations as false and politically motivated.

"I want to put it on record that I am a loyal member of the APC and have been sincere since I joined the party. I know that I played a key role towards the emergence of my younger brother, Kefas, as governor in 2023. I paid a very high price for that because I am completely excluded from the current government," Kente explained.

He emphasized that all aspirants should be allowed to test their popularity at the primaries when the time comes.
"All of us who are interested in vying for the party's ticket must be given a level playing field. The people will decide who leads them," he added.

According to him, political developments in the last few weeks have altered some of his earlier positions, signaling that more strategic moves may be expected within the APC in the months ahead.
"For me, a lot has happened in the last three weeks or thereabouts, when we last interacted. So there has been a shift in my earlier position," Kente said.

Political watchers in the state believe the unfolding scenario sets the stage for an intense political contest in the APC's southern zone, especially if Governor Kefas eventually defects to the ruling party.

With DSK, Ikenya, and possibly other aspirants from the zone eyeing the same ticket, party insiders predict a fierce battle for control ahead of the 2027 governorship election.