SellJoel Ikenya has been declared winner of the PDP governorship primaries in Taraba State, emerging victorious in the Tanimu Turaki-led faction’s internal election. The results were announced on Saturday in Jalingo by Felix Hyat, chairman of the election committee, who declared Ikenya the winner with 34,173 votes, defeating Dinshiya Usman, who received 4,853 votes. Hyat described the exercise as free, fair, and transparent, praising the state working committee for ensuring a peaceful and orderly process.
Ikenya, a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, expressed gratitude during his acceptance speech and outlined his vision for Taraba State. He pledged to transform the state from a salary-based economy into an industrialised one, promising to revive infrastructure and attract investors to boost economic growth. “I will transform Taraba; I will change the state from salary base, to an industrialised state,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to development and progress.
In a firm statement, Ikenya denied the existence of factionalism within the PDP in Taraba State. He insisted that the party remains united and rejected claims of internal divisions. “There is no factional PDP in Taraba; I don’t know where the other people are coming from,” he stated. He added that the party is working together as “one united family” to reclaim the governorship from incumbent Governor Agbu Kefas of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the PDP has separately declared Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as its governorship candidate in Taraba. This development highlights the ongoing internal divisions within the party at the national level, which have spilled into state-level politics. While Ikenya’s victory is celebrated by his supporters under the Turaki faction, the Bwacha candidacy from the Wike faction underscores the complex political landscape in the state.
The 2027 governorship election in Taraba is expected to be highly competitive, with multiple PDP candidates vying for the nomination and eventual ballot. Ikenya’s strong showing in the primary suggests he has significant grassroots support and may pose a serious challenge to the APC incumbent. As the state prepares for the next election cycle, political watchers will closely monitor how the PDP navigates its internal dynamics and whether the party can present a united front against its rivals.
The outcome of the primary sets the stage for a crucial contest in Taraba, where economic development, infrastructure, and political unity will be central themes. Ikenya’s campaign promises signal a shift toward industrialisation and investment, which could influence voter sentiment in the coming years.
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