By Mustapha Gembu
January 31st, 2026
Today, the political landscape of Taraba State has witnessed a dramatic transformation—one that many perceive as divine vindication for Muslims in the state. The entire political structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba has collapsed into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
From the state governor to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly; from all members of the State Assembly to the PDP state chairman, local government chairmen, and other key stakeholders—virtually the entire PDP political machinery has defected to the APC, allegedly in the name of aligning with the federal government.
For context, Taraba State has been governed by the PDP continuously since the return of democracy in 1999. For decades, the APC and other political parties existed merely as an opposition party, heavily marginalized and politically suppressed within the state.
During this period, the APC was repeatedly labeled with derogatory and inflammatory names such as “Boko Haram party,” “Islamic party,” “Fulani Janjaweed party,” and “Mbororo party.” These labels were deliberately deployed to manipulate poor and vulnerable electorates, instill fear, and secure votes and loyalty for the ruling party through deception and religious sentiment.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chapter in Taraba State frequently issued press statements against APC members and Muslims in the state, often acting as a mouthpiece for the PDP-led government—particularly during the administration of former Governor Darius Ishaku. During that era, CAN effectively functioned as a de facto political authority, influencing appointments and policies that resulted in the marginalization of Muslims under what was described as “political neutralization” of Muslims in Taraba State.
Today, in what many see as God’s intervention on behalf of Muslims in Taraba, the same political caucuses responsible for the underdevelopment of the state—those who promoted religious division, tribalism, and bigotry for selfish political interests and desperation to cling to power—have re-emerged under a new banner. Ironically, they now appear clad in APC regalia, celebrating, dancing, and clapping as newly admitted party members.
These shameless decampees are individuals widely regarded as being on the wrong side of history—figures whose reckless exploitation of tribal and religious sentiments contributed to violence and the loss of innocent Taraban lives in their divide-and-rule tactics against the people.
Their complete defection to the very political party they once demonized stands as poetic justice—a clear consequence of their actions and, to many, a manifestation of divine retribution and vindication for Muslims in the state.
Today, the political space of Taraba has not only been labeled “Islamized” by false narratives, but those who fabricated and weaponized the lies of Islamization have themselves ended up within the same political fold they once vilified.
What a turning point in the history of Taraba politics? The Politics of Division finally Meets Its End
A Word of Advice to the Decampees into the APC
To those who have crossed over into the APC, this moment demands deep reflection, not celebration. Defection alone does not cleanse history, erase past actions, or automatically confer moral legitimacy. Political relocation is easy; accountability is not.
You have entered a party you once demonized, maligned, and used as a tool of religious fear-mongering. The minimum expectation, therefore, is humility. This is not the time for entitlement, dominance, or attempts to recreate the same exclusionary politics that once divided Taraba along religious and ethnic lines.
If your defection is truly borne out of patriotism and a desire for progress, then you must publicly renounce the politics of hate, tribalism, and religious bigotry that defined your past. Silence is no longer enough. The people of Taraba deserve sincerity, not recycled opportunism.
Understand this clearly: the APC is not a refuge for failed power merchants, nor a sanctuary for those fleeing the consequences of their own divisions. It must not be turned into a continuation of the same old politics under a different logo.
You are now guests in a political house you once tried to burn. Respect it. Obey its rules. Promote unity. Protect justice. And above all, serve all Tarabans—Muslims, Christians, and every tribe—without bias or superiority.
History is watching. The people are watching. And power, as you should know by now, is temporary. Let your actions from this point forward prove that this defection is not another chapter of deception, but a genuine break from a destructive past.
Abuja Network News
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Opinion