Former Taraba State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election, citing what he described as poor governance and worsening hardship under Governor Agbu Kefas.
Bwacha made the declaration on Saturday in Jalingo during a grand reception held in his honour, where he said his earlier vow not to re-contest was conditional on improved governance in the state.
According to him, the situation on the ground has instead deteriorated, forcing him to reconsider his position following what he called wide consultations and mounting calls from across the state.
“At Ashuku, during the burial of my sister Alice, I made it clear that I would not contest again if the dividends of democracy were truly reaching the people of Taraba. Sadly, that is not the case,” he said.
“The hardship has deepened. The suffering has increased. That is why, after wide consultations and repeated calls from across the state, I have decided to step forward once again. This decision is not driven by ambition but by the urgent reality of our times,” he added.
Bwacha accused the present administration of prioritising what he called luxury projects over people-oriented development, alleging that governance in the state had lost direction.
“Our people have endured political, social, and moral degradation. Trust in governance has been eroded. To remain silent in the face of this is dangerous. Silence, in times like these, is not neutrality—it is complicity,” he said.
He also raised concerns over what he described as lack of transparency, fiscal mismanagement, and rising debt profile in the state.
“Today, our state stands on the brink. We see a lack of transparency, disregard for the rule of law, fiscal irresponsibility, waste of public resources, poor economic planning and broken promises,” he stated.
Bwacha further claimed that Taraba’s debt had increased significantly under the current administration.
“Our debt profile has risen alarmingly—from about N237 billion in 2023 to over a trillion naira today. This raises serious concerns about prudence, accountability and leadership capacity,” he said.
The former senator vowed to provide what he called a new direction for the state if elected in 2027, promising transparency, unity and inclusive governance.
“I therefore declare my resolve to lead Taraba into a new era—an era of transparency, unity and real progress. We will pursue a clear break from the present system,” he said.
“Our vision is simple: to restore Taraba to a place where every citizen feels a sense of belonging. Leadership must serve the people, and the people must trust their leaders,” he added.
Bwacha also urged residents to reject division and embrace unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Let us not seek ethnic answers or religious answers. Let us seek the right answers. Our future must not be shaped by division but by shared responsibility,” he said.
He concluded by calling for unity and resilience, insisting that despite challenges, a better Taraba was possible with collective effort.
