David Sabo Kente’s Unusual Silence

 Since making his first major political move in 2015, following his retirement from the National Assembly bureaucracy, Chief David Sabo Kente DSK has remained a recurring figure in Taraba State’s political calculations. Even when he is not on the ballot, Kente has continued to play significant political roles, buoyed by his considerable financial resources, extensive business interests, and philanthropic interventions through a foundation headquartered in Jalingo.

In Taraba South, where he hails from, many regard him as one of the district’s most significant private-sector employers, second only to the Taraba State Government in terms of employment opportunities. His numerous business enterprises, scattered across the district, have provided livelihoods for hundreds of people, earning him a place in the political and economic consciousness of the people.

But beyond his business empire and philanthropic engagements, Kente's political influence has often been measured by his capacity to mobilise forces, shape alliances, and alter the calculations of political opponents.

DSK political network becomes strong in 2015 when he contested governor under the Social Democratic Party SDP where he came third, but the 2023 governorship election remains a defining example.

Despite losing the APC governorship ticket to Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Kente refused to surrender without a fight. He pursued the dispute through the party's internal processes and the courts, taking the battle as far as the Supreme Court.

Although he ultimately failed to secure the ticket, the political consequences of the ensuing struggle extended far beyond the primaries. Kente and his allies, including David Jimkuta, now representing Taraba South in the Senate, Professor Dalhatu Sangari, General A.T. Ibrahim, and Ezekiel Irmiya Afukoyo, constituted a formidable political bloc whose influence was strongly felt across Southern Taraba.

Even though the group's unity appears to have broken down irretrievably, with Afukoyo, Sangari, and Tubasen aligning with Governor Agbu Kefas and abandoning Kente and Jimkuta, who have continued to maintain their father-and-son relationship, the latter now faces another political challenge. Jimkuta, arguably the biggest beneficiary of the group's 2023 struggle, is facing pre-election litigation at the Federal High Court over allegations of certificate forgery reportedly pursued by his former teammate, Tubasen.

Their political strategy during the 2023 elections further complicated the APC's calculations. While supporting the presidential ambition of the party's candidate at the national level, the group backed the then-PDP governorship candidate, Agbu Kefas, at the state level. This position earned them accusations of anti-party activities from within their own political fold.

For many observers, the episode demonstrated a fundamental truth about Taraba politics: the possession of a party ticket does not automatically translate into control of the political structures and loyalties required to win an election.

As the contest for 2027 gradually takes shape, however, an unexpected question has emerged: Where is Chief David Sabo Kente DSK?

The question is not without reason. During the build-up to the 2026 APC primaries, Kente appeared poised to challenge Governor Agbu Kefas and was widely expected to sustain the contest to its logical conclusion. Yet, when the political stakes became decisive, he stepped back from the race.

That decision has left political watchers speculating about his next move. Was his withdrawal a tactical retreat, a calculated response to the realities of the moment, or a signal that he was reconsidering other political options?

Whatever the explanation, Kente's silence has become increasingly conspicuous in a political environment where alignments are shifting and preparations for 2027 are gathering momentum.

His silence is particularly striking given the growing political pressure on Governor Kefas, including opposition emerging from within the governor's own senatorial district. With political interests repositioning themselves and new alliances taking shape, many had expected Kente to establish a formidable support structure for the governor ahead of the impending electoral contest.

Such an arrangement would not necessarily be surprising. The politics of Taraba South is too consequential to be ignored, and Kente's business network, grassroots connections, philanthropic footprint, and history of political mobilisation make him a figure whose decisions could influence the district's political direction.

Many political observers are curious that DSK has remained unusually quiet.

For a man who has demonstrated, on more than one occasion, that he can remain politically consequential even without occupying an elected office, the present silence raises more questions than it answers.

One thing, however, remains clear: in Taraba politics, silence does not always signify surrender. Sometimes, it is the prelude to a new alliance, a strategic retreat, or an unexpected political realignment.

As 2027 approaches, the question is no longer merely why David Sabo Kente is silent. It is whether Taraba's political establishment can afford to ignore what his eventual decision might mean.

Although Chief David Sabo Kente was formally listed as a member of Governor Agbu Kefas’ campaign committee, his absence from the visible political activities surrounding the governor has not gone unnoticed. Many believe that Kente is carefully weighing his options ahead of 2027, although he has yet to communicate his political direction to his followers.

Whatever his eventual decision may be, one thing remains clear: David Sabo Kente commands a substantial political following in Taraba South, a constituency whose political dynamics will remain central to the calculations ahead of the 2027 elections. His supporters, networks, and political influence constitute a factor that cannot simply be wished away or ignored.

Whether he eventually throws his weight behind Kefas, aligns with another political tendency, or chooses a different path altogether remains to be seen. Until then, his unusual silence will continue to fuel speculation about his next move.

Perhaps the real question is not whether David Sabo Kente will return to the political scene, but when, how, and under what political arrangement he will choose to do so. In a state where alliances are constantly shifting, his eventual decision could offer a clearer picture of the political direction of not only Taraba South but beyond as 2027 approaches.