The Taraba State Government has rejected claims that Governor Agbu Kefas has issued automatic party tickets to political aspirants ahead of the upcoming general elections. In a statement released on Friday in Jalingo by Special Adviser on Political Matters and Special Duties, Josiah Sabo Kente, the government labelled the rumours as "false, baseless, and misleading." It affirmed that Governor Kefas has not promised any individual or group automatic nomination into elective positions. The statement stressed the governor's adherence to democratic principles, including fairness and equal opportunity for all aspirants within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Kente cited the position of APC State Chairman Abubakar Bawa, who confirmed the party has no provision for automatic tickets and remains committed to a transparent and credible candidate selection process. The government expressed concern that the rumours had sparked tension among party members and aspirants. Stakeholders were advised to ignore the claims and refrain from circulating unverified information. The administration reiterated that Kefas remains focused on governance and upholding democratic practices as election activities progress.
Governor Agbu Kefas finds himself wading through political noise not of his making, yet the mere circulation of rumours about automatic tickets reveals deeper anxieties within Taraba's APC. The fact that such claims gained traction so easily suggests a lack of trust in the party's internal processes, even as both Kefas and State Chairman Abubakar Bawa publicly reject shortcuts. When aspirants and supporters begin treating speculation as plausible truth, it reflects a system perceived as prone to backdoor deals.
The government's swift rebuttal underscores the fragile balance of party unity in an election year. That the clarification came through a special adviser, not the governor directly, adds a layer of calculated distance—maintaining decorum while containing dissent. Yet the need to issue a statement at all shows how quickly unfounded narratives can destabilise political environments, especially in states with histories of intra-party friction.
Ordinary APC members and aspiring candidates in Taraba are the most affected, as rumour and denial create uncertainty about fairness. Those without perceived proximity to power may feel further marginalised, even if no actual favouritism exists. Perceptions matter as much as facts in politics, and the damage is often done before denials are issued.
This episode fits a recurring pattern across Nigerian politics, where the spectre of automatic tickets—real or imagined—becomes a proxy for broader grievances about access and equity in party structures.
