Former Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to step into what he terms a breakdown of internal democracy within the party’s Taraba State chapter.
Speaking through his senior media aide, Dr. Sam Idiagbonya, on Saturday, Sambo demanded a thorough review of the APC governorship primary in the state. He argued that the exercise, which declared incumbent Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas the winner with 166,357 votes, while Sambo trailed far behind with 4,110 votes, was marred by irregularities and lacked transparency.
“Politics is about power, but power must always respect due process,” Idiagbonya stated, rejecting the outcome as a betrayal of democratic principles. He claimed that many loyal APC members felt “betrayed, humiliated, and politically orphaned” by how the primary was conducted.
Sambo’s camp alleged that the election was characterized by the exclusion of key stakeholders and a lack of openness. They warned that if these concerns are not addressed, it could tarnish the party’s image and the integrity of the entire process.
“We are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leadership of the APC, and the party chairman to urgently review the conduct of the Taraba State gubernatorial primaries,” the statement added. Sambo stressed that the APC must “rise to its purpose, defend its honour, and remain a model of democratic process.”