Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, has announced Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim as his running mate as he seeks the mandate of his people for a second term.

Ordinarily, Alhaji Aminu Alkali, the current deputy governor, who has been with him since 2023, would have paired with Kefas on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 race, but due to reported ill health, there had been pressure on the governor not to run with him; hence the search for a replacement and the eventual choice of Zainab.

Weekend Trust reports that the choice of Zainab has, however, introduced new dimensions to the race, which include ethnic and gender factors.

The current deputy governor is from the Mumuye ethnic group from Zing town in the northern senatorial zone of the state while Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim is Hausa-Fulani from Jalingo, also in the northern senatorial zone.

It was gathered that when it became obvious that Kefas could not continue with his current deputy, he began consultations early enough before deciding on Zainab. It was reported that in one of such consultations, the governor invited Mumuye stakeholders to a meeting and demanded that they submit a name from one of their kinsmen to replace Aminu Alkali since he is one of them.

Weekend Trust gathered that at the meeting, the Mumuye stakeholders did not immediately align with the offer, saying they would consider other possible options.

Insiders revealed to our correspondent that few weeks after the meeting with Mumuye elders, they went back to the governor, saying they had agreed to provide a replacement for Aminu Alkali, but it was gathered that the governor turned down the request.

It was further learnt that Kefas made consultations with APC key stakeholders and thereafter announced Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim as his running mate.

The new running mate

Zainab is a well known figure in the APC at the national level and Taraba State. She is also the national woman leader of the party. She is easily recognised as the younger sister to the late Senator Jummai Aisha Al- Hassan, who contested for the governorship seat of Taraba State twice.

On that ground, many regard the choice of Zainab as a good political calculation because she hails from Jalingo, which is believed to have a high number of voters.

Commenting on the choice of Zainab, Dauda Hudu, a young politician, said Jalingo was relevant in every governorship election in the state due to the number of voters there.

But another resident, Idris Lawal of Tudun Wada Quarters in Jalingo, said gender issue would play a big role in the election because many residents were not disposed to having a female candidate. He said it was the same issue that affected the late Senator Jummai Aisha Al-Hassan when she contested for the governorship of the state.

The odds against the choice

Those from the current deputy governor’s ethnic group, on the other hand, are not happy with the emergence of Zainab. They feel neglected and sidelined by the decision; hence majority of them, especially the youth, are said to have shifted their support to Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, a gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Phillip James, a Mumuye from Zing town, said that with the current political development, his people would have to evaluate the situation on what they should do as far as the 2027 governorship election is concerned.

He noted that Mumuye dominates two local government areas – Yorro and Zing – and also have a spread in three other local government areas – Jalingo, Lau and Ardo Kola – in the northern senatorial zone.

“Since 1999, Mumuye people always vote en bloc; that is why candidates seeking positions of governorship, Senate and House of Representatives consider Mumuye votes as very crucial.

Further complicating the matter, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, the PDP governorship candidate, also picked his running mate from Jalingo.

Weekend Trust also reports that former Governor Jolly Nyame is another factor in both Jalingo and Mumuye.

Nyame, who is a two-time governor of Taraba State, is a Mumuye and hails from Zing town, holding the title of Dabong Yorro, meaning father of Mumuye tribe.

Our correspondent gathered that Nyame is close to both Gov Kefas and Senator Bwacha. The latter once served as commissioner for agriculture under his administration and their relationship continues till date.

Similarly, Kefas is also said to be very close to the Dabong Yorro; and that too is a key factor that could influence decisions of Mumuye to give him votes despite picking Zainab Ibrahim from Jalingo as his running mate.

“Recently, the Dabong Yorro declared that the relationship between him and Gov Kefas was good and he held nothing against the governor,” Nuhu Kabir said.

He said the declaration by the Dabong Yorro was an indication that all is well between the former governor and Governor Kefas.

“The Mumuye tribe, not only in Yorro or Zing, whether in Taraba or Adamawa, respect and listen to Nyame. In this regard, both Kefas and Senator Bwacha would benefit from him, except he points at a particular person he anointed among the two,” some political observers said.

Opposition parties’ challenge

Sources close to the Senator Emmanuel Bwacha Campaign Organisation told Weekend Trust that he made wide consultations before picking his running mate from Jalingo town.

Bello Abubakar, a young politician in Jalingo, is also of the view that since the two deputies of the APC and PDP governorship candidates are from Jalingo, the coincidence would shape the 2027governorship election in Taraba State since both of them have similar backgrounds.

“The Hausa-Fulani have a good population in Jalingo. And they are in almost all the local government areas of Taraba State; that is why Bwacha picked Zakari Aminu, an engineer, as his running mate,” he said.

He said there’s the possibility that the two running mates would split Jalingo votes for the two governorship candidates.

Abubakar said both Governor Kefas and Senator Bwacha would have to work very hard to control the votes in Jalingo.

On the issue of incumbency factor, opposition parties are expressing fear that Governor Kefas would use all the government machinery at his disposal to achieve his second term ambition.

But Charles Williams, a supporter of Senator Bwacha, said the incumbency factor may not likely work this time, as according to him, Bwacha knows the political terrain of Taraba State very well, having started his political journey from the state House of Assembly and into the House of Representatives and the Senate, so he would not be intimidated by the incumbency factor.

Lately, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is gaining support in all the zones in the state, which is another big challenge that would result into a keen contest during the 2027 governorship election in Taraba.

Senator Abubakar Tutare, the ADC governorship candidate, is from the Taraba central senatorial zone and is a politician with large support, especially in the zone, which he represented in the Senate. His senatorial zone also shares a common political interest and sentiment to some level. The acceptance the ADC is getting across the state is another factor that could shape the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Apart from the choice of the governor’s running mate, analysts said the presence of other candidates in the race, such as Professor Sani Yahaya, the gubernatorial candidate of the NDC; Professor Nyamed, the Accord Party candidate; Senator Joel Danlami lkenya, PDP candidate of the Kabiru Turaki faction, and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Danjuma Usman Shiddi, known as Danji SS, could also influence the outcome of the election. (Daily Trust)