JALINGO — A quiet rebellion is brewing within the Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as loyalists of former Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, express growing frustration over the party leadership’s continued silence on petitions arising from the governorship primaries.
Rather than staging an overt defection or publicly severing ties, Sambo’s decision to remain within the ruling party has presented a strategic dilemma for state and national party executives.
Sambo’s Loyalty Creates Strategic Leverage
According to sources within the party, Sambo’s calculated decision to stay put has disarmed executives who anticipated a routine defection following the contentious primary race.
Political observers note that because Sambo—a recognized founding figure of the party—refused to jump ship, the leadership cannot easily brush aside his camp as disgruntled outsiders.
This lingering tension is believed to have partly driven the recent visit of APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who recently engaged state stakeholders in Jalingo.
By maintaining his ground within the party structure, Sambo’s camp has kept the pressure on decision-makers to formally address internal electoral disputes or risk heading into the general election with a fractured base.
Taraba APC Sets Up Zonal Reconciliation Panels
Responding to the rising internal friction, the Taraba State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Aaron Artimas, affirmed that the party is prioritizing unity and conflict resolution ahead of the general polls.
Artimas confirmed that the party officially inaugurated reconciliation committees across the state’s three senatorial districts on Monday to address lingering grievances.
“The party wants a united front going into the general election. That is what informed the inauguration of reconciliation committees across the three senatorial zones,” Artimas explained.
“We urge all aggrieved members to embrace dialogue and work together as one family,” he added.
