Joel Ikenya, a previous Minister of Labour and Productivity, has secured the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State. The primary election was conducted by the faction led by Tanimu Turaki.
Felix Hyat, who chaired the electoral committee, revealed the outcome in Jalingo on Saturday. Ikenya garnered 34,173 votes, comfortably surpassing Dinshiya Usman, who managed only 4,853 votes.
Hyat praised the process as fair, transparent, and credible, commending the state working committee for ensuring a peaceful exercise.
In his acceptance remarks, Ikenya vowed to restore Taraba to its former prosperity if he wins the 2027 governorship election. He outlined plans to shift the state from a salary-dependent economy to an industrialized one, revive infrastructure, and attract more investors to boost economic growth.
The candidate dismissed claims of a fractured PDP in Taraba, insisting there is no factional division. He described the party as a united front working collectively to reclaim power from Governor Agbu Kefas of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Notably, the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the party recently declared Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as its own governorship candidate for Taraba.