INEC publishes 19 names for Taraba 2027 governorship race
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued its final register of contenders for the Taraba State governorship contest, fixing the ballot for 6 February 2027. Nineteen people are on the roster, among them the sitting governor, Agbu Kefas, and ex-senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
In the commission's document, Kefas carries the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner, Bwacha flies the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag, and Abubakar Tutare, also a former senator, stands for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Details captured for every entrant include the name of the candidate, that of the running mate, age, gender and educational background.
The field spans a wide range of parties, with the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) all represented.
Both leading figures have changed parties since the last poll. Kefas captured the governorship in 2023 as the PDP standard-bearer and later moved to the APC, while Bwacha, the APC's candidate in that same election, has since taken up the PDP mantle. The swap has redrawn the battle lines, leaving the incumbent facing his old party's former flagbearer.
Figures from the 2023 race show Kefas securing 257,926 votes, ahead of Muhammad Yahaya of the NNPP with 202,277. Bwacha placed third on 142,502 votes. Yahaya has since emerged as the NDC's candidate, adding a recognisable name to the field.
Kefas is asking voters for another term, while those challenging him are pitching themselves as stronger options to run the state.
Below is the complete INEC roster of candidates and their running mates:
Accord (A): Jerome Nyameh, with Ali Tanimu as running mate.
African Action Congress (AAC): Gago Bulus, with Sokira Salihu Njeke as running mate.
African Democratic Congress (ADC): Abubakar Tutare, with Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan as running mate.
Action Democratic Party (ADP): Hamman Mustapha, with Wesley Ekanah as running mate.
All Progressives Congress (APC): Kefas Agbu, with Ibrahim Abubakar as running mate.
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Shiddi Usman, with Kawu Muhammad as running mate.
Allied Peoples Movement (APM): Bawa Mohammed, with Daren James as running mate.
Action Peoples Party (APP): Henry Banti, with Jamilu Aliyu as running mate.
Boot Party (BP): Kabiru Bala, with Nawukari Adams as running mate.
Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA): Aboki Stephen, with Maryam Geda as running mate.
Labour Party (LP): Nathan Sanda, with Foku Gaddas as running mate.
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Yahaya Sani, with Susana Kona as running mate.
National Democratic Party (NDP): Nuhu Atta, with Abubakar Bitako as running mate.
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): Uba Abdullahi, with Emmaunel Luka as running mate.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Bwacha Emmanuel, with Zakari Aminu as running mate.
Peoples Redemption Party (PRP): Josiah Wasa, with Hamman Abubakar as running mate.
Social Democratic Party (SDP): Yusuf Ali, with Nathan Danladi as running mate.
Young Progressives Party (YPP): Sa'ad Abubakar, with Abdul'alim Umar as running mate.
Zenith Labour Party (ZLP): Bello Adamu, with Yakubu Nuhu as running mate.
Whoever wins will steer a state where roads and other infrastructure, farming, jobs, schooling, medical services, safety and public spending remain pressing concerns.
For Kefas, the ballot amounts to a referendum on how his government has performed since he assumed office in 2023. Rival camps, by contrast, must spell out how they intend to confront the state's development problems.
Bwacha has previously taken aim at the Kefas administration over infrastructure, economic management and transparency. Those assertions, together with the government's own record and rebuttals, will be weighed against budget papers, project files, audited accounts and proof of services delivered.
Contenders will equally be pressed to show where the money for their plans would come from and how those plans would be carried out, instead of leaning only on campaign rhetoric and endorsements.
With the final list now out, voters have an official document to consult when identifying who is seeking office and who their running mates are.
INEC has set the governorship poll for 6 February 2027 across 28 states.
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