Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State put a lie to the claim by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory alleging that he did not resign as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his State before contesting the 2023 governorship election.
Kefas pointedly declared that he resigned his position as Chairman of the PDP in 2022 ahead of signifying and later declaring his intention to run for the Governorship seat of Taraba State.
To buttress his claim, Kefas presented official documents that included a letter dated May 17, 2022, that was addressed to the then PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
The resignation letter by Kefas reads; “I wish to use this medium to notify our great party of my resignation from the position of the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Taraba State.
“This is to allow me the necessary time and space required to pursue my aspiration for political office as allowed by the constitution of our great party.
“I sincerely appreciate the rare opportunity given to me to serve at the highest political party office in the state and must also acknowledge the immense support, and encouragement which you gave to me while I occupied the said office.
“I have no doubt that my successor will enjoy the same support and may I use this opportunity to pledge my unalloyed loyalty and continuous support to the party and to also promise to be available anytime my contribution is needed,” the letter stated.
Wike had alleged that Kefas remained in office as Chairman of the PDP in Taraba State while running for the Governorship position of his State, stating that the precedent set by Kefas justified why Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary of the PDP refused to vacate office before contesting the Governorship election in Imo State and returned after loosing the election.
Kefas in a swift response, said that he resigned far ahead of the stipulated time, adding that his resignation letter copied to the then sitting Governor of Taraba State, Arc. Darius Ishaku, and the acting State Chairman of the PDP.
However, in a sharp contrast, Anyanwu refused to resign as National Secretary of the PDP before contesting for the Imo State gubernatorial election which he later lost.
Curiously, after his defeat at the Governorship election, Anyanwu returned to the PDP National Secretariat to resume his position as National Secretary, a development that was rejected and resisted by stakeholders and some key members of the South East caucus of the PDP which culminated into an internal party crisis that ended up in court.
The South East caucus went ahead and nominated Hon Sunday Udeh Okoye as replacement for Anyanwu, but the faction aligned with Wike, of which Anyanwu is considered a key member, refused to cede the position.
