In a dramatic political realignment in Taraba State, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena, Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, has reportedly resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Alongside him, 15 other PDP lawmakers are said to have submitted their letters of defection.

Though local outlets have not yet widely reported this mass defection, political insiders say Bonzena cited “serious factionalisation at the national level” of the PDP as the driving force behind the move. According to unconfirmed reports, some of the defectors include Deputy Speaker Hamman Adama Abdullai (Bali 2), Majority Leader Jethro Yakubu (Wukari 1), and constituencies such as Kurmi, Lau, Gassol, and others.

Bonzena is quoted as defending the decision as selfless: “Our people should not misinterpret this decision … It is for the interest of the state.” He allegedly projected that all 24 members of the Taraba Assembly would now be aligned with the APC, a development that would turn the Assembly into a one‑party legislature, according to his statements.

One former Taraba Assembly speaker, Peter Diah, publicly welcomed his colleagues into the APC, calling their defection a “new dawn” for Taraba — particularly as they align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision, according to these sources.

Political watchers say this could fundamentally reshape Taraba’s political landscape, especially ahead of 2027 elections, but without independent confirmation from major news outlets, the full scale and authenticity of the defections remain murky.