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Former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame Dumps APC, Returns to PDP After Years of "Unfair Treatment" — Picks Up Senatorial Nomination Form for 2027
Former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame waves to supporters after announcing his return to the PDP at a press conference in Jalingo.
Former Taraba State Governor, Reverend Jolly Tavoro Nyame, has officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing the ruling party of unfair treatment and failure to recognise his contributions since he joined the party after receiving a presidential pardon. The move — announced at a well‑attended press conference in Jalingo on Tuesday — marks a significant political shift in the state and immediately alters the calculus for the 2027 Taraba North senatorial district race, with Nyame confirming that he has already picked up the PDP’s nomination and expression of interest forms.
Nyame, who governed Taraba from 1999 to 2007 under the PDP banner before his conviction in 2018 on corruption charges and eventual pardon by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, said his decision was taken after months of reflection and consultations. “The APC promised to be a party that rewards loyalty and embraces all who join its fold,” Nyame told journalists. “But my experience over the last few years has been one of marginalisation, disrespect, and a deliberate refusal to engage with me on the political direction of the state. I did not leave the PDP to become a spectator in my own political journey.” The former governor was flanked by a number of his loyalists, including former commissioners and local government chairmen, many of whom are expected to follow him back to the PDP.
"Unfair Treatment" and the Breaking Point
In a detailed account of his grievances, Nyame traced the roots of his dissatisfaction to the aftermath of his release from prison. According to him, after receiving a state pardon, he had been approached by senior APC figures who promised him a central role in rebuilding the party in Taraba. However, those promises quickly evaporated. He spoke of being sidelined during the 2023 governorship campaign, where his input was reportedly dismissed by the party’s candidate and the state working committee. “I was not even invited to the final campaign rally in Jalingo,” Nyame said. “A former governor of this state, who had paid his dues, was treated like a stranger at the gate. That was when I knew the APC was not my home.”
The final straw, associates say, was the recent refusal of the APC leadership in Taraba to entertain his senatorial ambition. Nyame had reportedly indicated his desire to contest the Taraba North seat in 2027, but was met with resistance from party leaders who favoured a younger candidate aligned with Governor Agbu Kefas’ political structure — a development Nyame interpreted as a coordinated effort to push him out of relevance. His exit letter, submitted to the APC ward chairman in Jalingo, described the party as having “abandoned the principles of internal democracy and respect for elders,” and signalled his immediate resignation.
PDP Rolls Out the Welcome Mat
The PDP, unsurprisingly, has embraced Nyame’s return with open arms. In a statement issued shortly after the announcement, the PDP National Publicity Secretary described Nyame as “a founding father of this party whose contributions to the development of Taraba State and the PDP remain indelible.” The party confirmed that Nyame had been issued a waiver, allowing him to contest for the senatorial ticket despite having only just rejoined. “The PDP is big enough to accommodate all returning members, and we are confident that Reverend Nyame’s return will strengthen our position in Taraba ahead of 2027,” the statement added.
Local PDP leaders in Taraba North have already begun mobilising support for Nyame’s candidacy. A senior party stakeholder in the zone, who spoke to Unuevbo TV on condition of anonymity, said the former governor’s entry had “changed everything.” “He remains the most recognisable political figure in the northern zone, and his return brings back memories of the PDP’s dominance in the early 2000s. The party will give him every support to secure the ticket.” The current occupant of the Taraba North seat, Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau, is a second‑term APC member widely expected to seek re‑election, setting up what could be one of the most watched senatorial contests in the North‑East.
The Road Back: From Prison to Politics
Nyame’s return to the political stage is remarkable even by the standards of Nigerian politics, where former governors rarely disappear quietly. In 2018, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison by an FCT High Court after being found guilty of 27 counts of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N1.64 billion belonging to Taraba State. The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal, but in April 2022, the Council of State, under President Buhari, granted him a pardon alongside 158 others, including former Plateau Governor Joshua Dariye. The pardon restored his civil liberties and, crucially, his eligibility to hold public office — a door Nyame is now walking through without apology.
Critics have questioned the morality of Nyame’s return, but the former governor, who is also an ordained reverend, insists that his faith and the forgiveness of his people have given him a new mandate. “I have served my punishment, and I have been forgiven by the highest authority in the land,” he said. “I am not returning to politics for personal gain. I am returning because the people of Taraba North have asked me to, and because I believe I still have something to offer.” His supporters point to his governorship years, during which infrastructure projects and civil service reforms earned him the nickname “The Digital Governor” — a legacy he intends to run on.
APC Reacts, Downplays Impact
The APC in Taraba has reacted to Nyame’s departure with a mix of defiance and diplomatic caution. The state party chairman, Alhaji Tukur Abba, told reporters that the party “wishes Jolly Nyame well in his future endeavours” but insisted that his exit would not affect the APC’s fortunes in the state. “We respect the right of any individual to associate with the party of their choosing. However, the APC in Taraba remains united and focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to our people,” he said. Privately, however, party sources acknowledge that Nyame’s following, particularly among the older generation of voters in the northern part of the state, could dent the APC’s chances in a senatorial race that has historically been competitive.
National APC officials were less restrained. A member of the National Working Committee described Nyame as “a spent political force who is desperately trying to remain relevant” and noted that his defection was “not a loss but an opportunity to build a younger, more energised party.” The remark, which quickly circulated on social media, drew sharp criticism from Nyame’s camp, with one aide calling it “precisely the kind of arrogance that has driven good people out of APC.” The public exchange underscores the increasingly bitter tone of pre‑2027 manoeuvring across the political spectrum.
Implications for 2027
Nyame’s defection is part of a broader pattern of political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, with prominent figures crossing party lines as the campaign season begins to take shape. For the PDP, capturing the Taraba North seat would be a critical part of a larger strategy to reclaim Taraba State, which it lost to the APC in the 2023 governorship election after 16 years in control. Nyame’s name recognition and political network in the north give the party a credible shot at defeating the incumbent senator, though he will first need to navigate a potentially contentious primary.
Analysts are already watching to see whether other disillusioned APC figures will follow Nyame’s lead. “When former governors start leaving a ruling party, it signals deeper structural problems,” said Dr. Amina Bala, a political scientist at Modibbo Adama University, in an interview with Unuevbo TV. “Jolly Nyame may not be the most powerful figure in Nigerian politics today, but he is a symbol. His return to the PDP will encourage others who feel marginalised to reassess their options.” For now, Nyame’s focus is on winning the PDP nomination and then taking the fight to the APC. “I am back where I belong,” he said, “and I am not going anywhere.”
A Defection That Shifts the North‑East Map
Jolly Nyame’s return to the PDP is more than a personal political comeback — it is a test of the APC’s ability to retain high‑profile members ahead of 2027 and a signal that the opposition is actively rebuilding. With a senatorial nomination form already in hand and a base that remembers his governorship years, Nyame is poised to become a central figure in Taraba politics once again. The months ahead will reveal whether his gamble pays off, but for now, the former governor has made one thing clear: he will not be sidelined again.
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