Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba state, under the umbrella of Progressives Frontliners (PF), have raised the alarm over alleged plans by two lawmakers, elected on the platform of the party, to defect to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
In a statement, the group which championed grassroots mobilisation for the election of President Bola Tinubu, during the 2023 elections, called on the President and the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, to take urgent steps to ensure that the lawmakers do not jump ship after riding on the back of the party to get elected.
The statement jointly signed by president of the group, Emmanuel Kefas Adams and the Secretary, John Matthias, alleged that the two federal lawmakers, Senator David Jimkuta and Mark Useni, a member of the House Representatives who were both elected on the platform of APC in the 2023 elections had an agreement with the Taraba state government to defect to the PDP after winning their elections.
According to the statement, the duo are set to decamp to the PDP, “to fulfill a alleged pre-election agreement with the Taraba state governor, Kefas Ogbu to the PDP if they win the elections.
The statement said the governor mobilised support for lawmakers during the pre-election court cases to secure the senatorial and House of Representatives seats.
The statement said the PF had been inundated with reports, alleging unholy alliances between the lawmakers and the PDP led state government in Taraba state .
The statement called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, to urgently look into disturbing allegations and the clandestine ploys to deceive and exploit APC’s goodwill in Taraba state.
“We have been inundated with reports alleging unholy alliances between the PDP state government Taraba state and these two National Assembly members who rode into power on the back of APC goodwill; the PDP state governor is believed to be undermining APC towards achieving long-term political goals.
“Specifically, we urge both President Bola Tinubu and APC National Chairman, to find out why and how the party lost both the presidential and governorship election in their constituencies.
“We feel very worried by allegations that both Senator David Jimkuta and Hon. Mark Useni of the House Representatives are set to fulfill a rumoured pre-election agreement to defect to the PDP and support Governor Agbu Kefas who garnered support for them during the pre-election court cases.”
The group lamented that, “It is quite unfortunate that APC is now set to lose two NASS members in Taraba State; barring any last minute changes…
“Senator Jimkuta and Hon. Mark Useni of the House Representatives are said to be set to fulfill their pre-election agreement to defect to the PDP to support Governor Ogbu, who mobilised support for them during the pre-election court cases and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Honorable Mark Useni and Senator David Jim Kuta.
“In a twist of events both Senator David Jim Kuta and Hon Mark Useni who belonged to different factions of the APC in Taraba State during the 2023 elections, are said to have held several meetings with Governor Kefas over his second term ambition.”
The group said further that, “there are widespread reports of discreet support for PDP and the governor which cost the APC in the state very dearly during the 2033 elections.
“The governor is believed to be undermining the APC towards achieving long-term political goals alliances between the peoples…
“During the 2023 elections, both legislators supported the PDP governor who won the governorship elections in their respective wards of Bete and Fete.
“It is no longer a secret that Governor Kefas is already indulging in fantasies about a 2027 re-election as well as a 2031 Senate seat at the expense of APC.
“We have reasons to believe that Hon Mark Useni who is holding an APC seat is currently in New York with PDP Governor Agbu and the legislator is said to have distanced himself from Senator Emmanuel Bwacha who is smarting from the loss of the governorship election and his inability to secure a cosy appointment from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We are not going to keep our eyes open and watch a party like PDP to swallow APC with its progressive and populist cause in Taraba state”.
The group called on the national leadership of the APC to halt the anti party activities of the lawmakers before it becomes a major embarrassment.
