Ben Adaji Jalingo – January 5, 2026
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Chief David Sabo Kente, has cautioned that the party may face serious internal crisis if the influx of defectors is not properly managed.
Kente issued the warning in a New Year message on Monday while speaking with journalists on phone, saying that while the growing membership of the APC could strengthen the party, mishandling internal arrangements could undermine its stability.
He expressed concern that some of the new entrants into the party were allegedly taking control of leadership positions and party structures, warning that such actions could sideline long-standing members who worked to build the APC in the state.
According to him, neglecting loyal party members could trigger protests and threaten the unity and relative stability currently enjoyed by the party.
“In the coming days, those who have defected from other political parties into the APC and are taking over party structures must ensure peaceful coexistence and carry everyone along,” he said. “Failure to do so could lead to an implosion, which would be disastrous for the party ahead of future elections.”
The former Commissioner representing Taraba State at the North East Development Commission (NEDC) disclosed that some party stakeholders, out of protest in the past, supported the emergence of the current governor even while he was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but regretted that they have not been adequately carried along.
He, however, said his relationship with the governor remained cordial, expressing hope that there was room for dialogue, reconciliation and correction of perceived wrongs.
Kente alleged that some individuals were deliberately fanning the embers of discord within the party for personal advantage, but maintained that such efforts would not succeed.
He also called on relevant authorities to sustain the relative peace and security recorded during the Yuletide season, urging the state and federal governments to accelerate the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.
Kente further appealed to political actors to avoid desperation as political activities begin to gather momentum, and urged governments at all levels to fast-track the completion of ongoing projects in Taraba State, particularly road projects, which he described as being in a deplorable state.
