Kefas Agbu
Kefas Agbu is a Nigerian politician who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominee for the 2027 Governorship Elections in Taraba.
Biography
Agbu Kefas (born 12 November 1970) is a Nigerian politician and retired Nigerian army lieutenant colonel who has served as the governor of Taraba State since 2023. Agbu Kefas was born on 12 November 1970, in Wukari, Taraba State (formally Gongola State), Nigeria. He is a younger brother of the late Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas.
He was educated at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna where he obtained a bachelor of science degree in political science and defense studies in 1994, the University of Ibadan in Oyo State where he earned a master's degree in legal criminology & security psychology in 2005, and the Delta State University, Abraka where he obtained a master's degree in public administration in 2008.
He attended Harvard Kennedy School where he earned a certificate in Executive Education Senior Executive in National and International Security. He is also a member of the Deeper Life Bible Church and has been a member of the church from a very young age.
Agbu Kefas retired from the Nigerian army after 21 years of service. Upon his retirement, he was appointed Chairman of the Governing Board of Directors of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) between 2013 and 2015.
He was also a member of the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative from 2016 to 2019. Before fully joining politics, he emerged as the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Taraba State in 2020.
In 2022, Agbu Kefas contested in the Taraba State PDP gubernatorial primary election and won. He ran for the office of Governor of Taraba State in March 2023 as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, the state's ruling party. He won the election, defeating Muhammad Yahaya of the New Nigeria People's Party by 100,337 votes.
On 31 January 2026, Agbu Kefas defected to the ruling party, All Progressive Congress. He is married to Agyin and they have four children; the first daughter got married last year.
Party Positions
Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.
Agriculture
Launches the Irrigate Nigeria Project as a public-private partnership to develop small-scale irrigation and water catchment systems using modern technology to boost agricultural productivity.
Security & Defense
Will deploy modern aerial surveillance and advanced technology to monitor and deter intrusions into oil pipelines, power stations, and other critical national infrastructure in real time.
Environment & Climate
Accelerates the environmental cleanup and re-establishment of fisheries and profitable aquacultural activities in the Niger-Delta region to counter violent extremism and poverty-driven disaffection.
Economy & Trade
Will implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and additional favorable policies to attract investment in deep-water assets within 6 months, including encouraging signature bonus negotiations and royalty reliefs.
Infrastructure
Creates regional industrial hubs in specific zones (North West, North East, South East, South South, South West, North Central) to focus on labor-intensive manufacturing, with tailored investments (e.g., textiles, dry ports, glass, pottery, solid minerals, regulated mining).
Enterprise grant support
Work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to simplify loan processes for commercial banks, mandate federally owned banks to provide low-cost loans to youth-led enterprises, and expand business incubation centers to support youth innovation.
Energy
Will mandate gas metering equipment on all facilities where gas flaring occurs within 6 months and establish a special enforcement unit to monitor compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on gas flaring reduction, with non-compliance leading to financial penalties for affected communities.
Governance & Reform
Reserve at least 3 cabinet positions for individuals under 40 and 6 more positions for members under the age of 40, and mandate that at least 20% of political appointments to Ministries/Dangomas (MDAs) be reserved for individuals under 40.
Education
Raises the priority of addressing out-of-school children, establishes a task force to review and strengthen programs like school feeding, and aims to reduce disaffected youth recruitment by violent groups.
Healthcare
Will establish a network of upgraded, equipped, and staffed general hospitals in every Local Government Area, tertiary facilities in each State, and world-class specialist hospitals in each geo-political zone to improve healthcare accessibility and quality.
Technology & Digital
Supports the development of MSMEs through partnerships with fintech players to expand access to capital and business development services.
Reliefs and scholarships
Commits to a conditional income support program requiring recipients to meet human capital goals (school attendance, healthcare, nutrition) in exchange for payments.
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