The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed 19 candidates for the 6 February 2027 governorship election in Taraba State, with incumbent Governor Agbu Kefas and former senator Emmanuel Bwacha among the prominent contenders.
The list names Mr Kefas as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Bwacha as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former senator Abubakar Tutare as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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The commission’s document contains the names of the candidates and their running mates, as well as their ages, genders and educational qualifications.
The 19 candidates represent different political parties, including the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
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Kefas, Bwacha switch political platforms
Mr Kefas won the 2023 governorship election on the PDP platform before defecting to the APC. Mr Bwacha, who contested that election as the APC candidate, now holds the PDP flag.
Their change of platforms has reshaped the contest, placing the incumbent and his party’s former candidate on opposing sides.
In the 2023 election, Mr Kefas polled 257,926 votes, against 202,277 for Muhammad Yahaya of the NNPP. Mr Bwacha polled 142,502 votes to finish third.
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Mr Yahaya is now the candidate of the NDC, providing another familiar name in the race.
Mr Kefas is seeking another mandate, while his challengers will be seeking to present themselves as better alternatives to his administration.
Full list of governorship candidates
INEC’s final document lists the following candidates and their running mates:
- Accord (A): Jerome Nyameh; running mate, Ali Tanimu.
- African Action Congress (AAC): Gago Bulus; running mate, Sokira Salihu Njeke.
- African Democratic Congress (ADC): Abubakar Tutare; running mate, Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan.
- Action Democratic Party (ADP): Hamman Mustapha; running mate, Wesley Ekanah.
- All Progressives Congress (APC): Kefas Agbu; running mate, Ibrahim Abubakar.
- All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Shiddi Usman; running mate, Kawu Muhammad.
- Allied Peoples Movement (APM): Bawa Mohammed; running mate, Daren James.
- Action Peoples Party (APP): Henry Banti; running mate, Jamilu Aliyu.
- Boot Party (BP): Kabiru Bala; running mate, Nawukari Adams.
- Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA): Aboki Stephen; running mate, Maryam Geda.
- Labour Party (LP): Nathan Sanda; running mate, Foku Gaddas.
- Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Yahaya Sani; running mate, Susana Kona.
- National Democratic Party (NDP): Nuhu Atta; running mate, Abubakar Bitako.
- New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): Uba Abdullahi; running mate, Emmaunel Luka.
- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Bwacha Emmanuel; running mate, Zakari Aminu.
- Peoples Redemption Party (PRP): Josiah Wasa; running mate, Hamman Abubakar.
- Social Democratic Party (SDP): Yusuf Ali; running mate, Nathan Danladi.
- Young Progressives Party (YPP): Sa’ad Abubakar; running mate, Abdul’alim Umar.
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP): Bello Adamu; running mate, Yakubu Nuhu.
Issues for the election
The candidates will be contesting for leadership of a state where infrastructure, agriculture, employment, education, healthcare, security and public finance remain important governance concerns.
For Mr Kefas, the election will provide an opportunity to defend his administration’s record since taking office in 2023.
ALSO READ: PDP affirms Emmanuel Bwacha as Taraba governorship candidate
The opposition candidates, meanwhile, will need to present proposals explaining how they would address the state’s development challenges.
Mr Bwacha has criticised the Kefas administration over infrastructure, economic management and transparency.
Such claims, alongside the administration’s record and responses, will require scrutiny against budget documents, project records, audited accounts and evidence of public service delivery.
The candidates will also need to explain how their proposed programmes would be funded and implemented, rather than relying solely on campaign promises and political endorsements.
The publication of the final list provides voters with an official reference for identifying the candidates and their running mates ahead of the election.
INEC has scheduled the governorship election for 6 February 2027 in 28 states.
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