The Senator Emmanuel Bwacha Campaign Organisation has criticised calls for Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, to serve a second term, describing the argument that it would facilitate the return of the governorship to Northern Taraba in 2031 as regressive and misguided.

The organisation said the narrative, allegedly promoted by supporters of the governor, was not in the overall interest of Taraba State and urged political stakeholders and voters, particularly in the northern zone, to reject it.

The Director of Communication and Media of the campaign organisation, Williams Ayooso, stated this in a press release issued in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Wednesday.

According to Ayooso, the argument that Kefas should complete two terms to allow the governorship to return to Northern Taraba in 2031 was a political strategy that could undermine the state’s development.

He alleged that the state had experienced slow growth across various sectors under the current administration, adding that the governor’s free education policy had failed to address fundamental challenges facing public schools.

Ayooso claimed that pupils in some public schools across the state still studied in dilapidated classrooms, with some allegedly sitting on bare floors in buildings without adequate roofing.

He further alleged that inadequate funding had left some schools struggling to meet basic needs, including the provision of examination papers and answer booklets for state examinations.

The campaign organisation also questioned the distribution of instructional materials under the free education programme, claiming that a significant number of primary school pupils had yet to benefit from the initiative.

On the state’s finances, Ayooso expressed concern over what he described as a rising debt profile approaching N1 trillion, arguing that the level of borrowing and government revenue had not translated into commensurate infrastructure development.

He claimed that Taraba had received substantial resources from borrowing, Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements and federal interventions but had little to show in terms of completed major infrastructure projects.

The organisation also criticised the alleged award of major contracts to companies from outside the state, arguing that the practice deprived local contractors and businesses of economic opportunities.

Ayooso cited a reported remark by Aminu Zakari, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate, who allegedly complained about the state of procurement and the award of contracts to individuals connected to the government.

The campaign organisation further accused the governor of failing to adequately address the welfare and livelihood concerns of residents, warning that another four years under the administration could worsen the state’s development challenges.

It therefore called on political leaders, traditional authorities, community stakeholders and voters, particularly in Northern Taraba, to assess the administration based on its performance rather than political arguments about the zoning of the governorship.

The organisation presented Senator Bwacha as an alternative, expressing confidence that his leadership would restore the state’s development prospects and address the concerns raised by residents.

It urged eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate peacefully in the 2027 governorship election to effect a change of administration.