The weekend is not the best time for the All Progressives Congress, APC and Labor Party, LP in Taraba State as thousands of its supporters are said to have switched to People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the southern senate district.
According to sources, the wave of defections also affects other political parties present in five local government areas in South Taraba.
The defectors estimated at 11,000 jumped ship Saturday at the Senatorial Campaign flag-off of incumbent governor, Darius Ishaku in Wukari.
The gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Kefas Agbu and his LP counterpart, Joel Ikenya, are both from Wukari LGA in Taraba South.
Former Deputy Senate Minority leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, who is currently appealing the decision of federal high court jalingo that nullified the gubernatorial primary election of the APC which made him the candidate of the party is also from Donga LGA in Taraba South.
While reactions are still being expected from the camps of the opposition with the wave of defections that swept across the southern zone, political watchers have predicted more would follow as campaign reaches its crescendo in the coming weeks.
Vanguard gathered that the Ill-preparedness of LP for the task ahead and the plethora of litigations in the APC might count against their gains in a state like Taraba that has always been won by the PDP.
However, many watchers of the political scene in the state are still hoping that other political parties can still give the PDP a run for its money if they are proactive enough to reach out to first time voters before balloting.