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.
The Mumuye stakeholders did not immediately align with the offer, saying they would consider other possible options. The weekend Trust gathered,
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.