INEC reveals 19 candidates for Taraba governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced 19 candidates for the governorship election in Taraba State set for 6 February 2027. Key players include the current Governor Agbu Kefas and former senator Emmanuel Bwacha.

Governor Kefas is the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Bwacha is running for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Former senator Abubakar Tutare will represent the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

INEC's document includes the names of candidates, their running mates, ages, genders, and educational backgrounds.

These 19 candidates come from various political parties like the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Kefas and Bwacha switch parties

Kefas won the governorship election in 2023 under the PDP but has now moved to the APC. Bwacha, who ran as the APC candidate in the last election, is now with the PDP.

This shift has changed the dynamics of the race, putting the current governor and his past opponent on opposite sides.

In the 2023 election, Kefas received 257,926 votes, while Muhammad Yahaya of the NNPP got 202,277 votes. Bwacha came in third with 142,502 votes.

Yahaya is now the candidate for the NDC, adding another familiar face to the race.

Kefas is looking for another term, while his opponents aim to show they can do better than his administration.

Complete list of candidates

INEC's final list includes the following candidates and their running mates:

1. Accord (A): Jerome Nyameh; running mate, Ali Tanimu.
2. African Action Congress (AAC): Gago Bulus; running mate, Sokira Salihu Njeke.
3. African Democratic Congress (ADC): Abubakar Tutare; running mate, Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan.
4. Action Democratic Party (ADP): Hamman Mustapha; running mate, Wesley Ekanah.
5. All Progressives Congress (APC): Kefas Agbu; running mate, Ibrahim Abubakar.
6. All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Shiddi Usman; running mate, Kawu Muhammad.
7. Allied Peoples Movement (APM): Bawa Mohammed; running mate, Daren James.
8. Action Peoples Party (APP): Henry Banti; running mate, Jamilu Aliyu.
9. Boot Party (BP): Kabiru Bala; running mate, Nawukari Adams.
10. Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA): Aboki Stephen; running mate, Maryam Geda.
11. Labour Party (LP): Nathan Sanda; running mate, Foku Gaddas.
12. Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Yahaya Sani; running mate, Susana Kona.
13. National Democratic Party (NDP): Nuhu Atta; running mate, Abubakar Bitako.
14. New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): Uba Abdullahi; running mate, Emmaunel Luka.
15. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Bwacha Emmanuel; running mate, Zakari Aminu.
16. Peoples Redemption Party (PRP): Josiah Wasa; running mate, Hamman Abubakar.
17. Social Democratic Party (SDP): Yusuf Ali; running mate, Nathan Danladi.
18. Young Progressives Party (YPP): Sa’ad Abubakar; running mate, Abdul’alim Umar.
19. Zenith Labour Party (ZLP): Bello Adamu; running mate, Yakubu Nuhu.

Challenges for the election

Candidates will compete for leadership in a state facing issues like infrastructure, agriculture, employment, education, healthcare, security, and public finance.

For Kefas, this election is a chance to defend his record since taking office in 2023.

Opposition candidates need to show how they will tackle the state’s development problems.

Bwacha has criticized Kefas over infrastructure, economic management, and transparency.

These claims, along with the administration's record, will need careful examination against budget documents and project records.

Candidates must also explain how they will fund and carry out their proposals, not just rely on promises.

The final list helps voters identify candidates and their running mates ahead of the election.

INEC has set the governorship election for 6 February 2027 in 28 states.