Arewa Youths Urge President Tinubu to Intervene Over DSK and Taraba APC Secretariat Closure

From: Mustapha Aminu 

Taraba-

The Arewa Youths Advocate for Peace and Unity Initiative has condemned in strong terms reports of the sudden closure of the Taraba State APC Secretariat, coming at a time when governorship aspirant Chief David Sabo Kente, widely known as DSK, was reportedly on his way to the party office. The incident has sparked reactions within the party and among stakeholders who view it as more than a routine administrative decision.

In a statement released in Jalingo on Thursday, the North East Zonal Coordinator of the group, Comrade Abdulrahman Kirfi, described the closure as sad and an abuse of democratic principles. He argued that shutting down the secretariat at such a critical moment undermines the openness and fairness expected in party processes, especially ahead of primaries and key political activities.

The group called on the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yelwada Goshe, to intervene by drawing the attention of the Taraba State party chairman to the development. Kirfi highlighted the sacrifices and efforts of DSK in stabilizing the party in Taraba before the governor’s defection earlier this year, noting that such contributions should not be ignored in the management of party affairs.

The statement also appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to call the state party chairman to order. The group disclosed plans to hold an urgent national press conference in Abuja to raise concerns over what it described as injustice against DSK, who has been active in building bridges across the country, the North, and Taraba State in particular.

According to available details, DSK was on his way to the APC state party secretariat when the State Chairman, Alh. Abubakar Bawa, ordered the immediate closure of the office for renovation. The timing of the closure has drawn attention because the secretariat was only recently handed over to the party less than two months ago, raising questions about the urgency and necessity of the move.

What may be going on behind the sudden closure likely relates to internal party maneuvering ahead of the primaries. In many state chapters, access to the party secretariat is critical for aspirants seeking to submit documents, hold meetings, and coordinate with party officials. A sudden closure, particularly when a key aspirant is en route, can be interpreted as an attempt to control the process, limit access, or send a political signal to contending interests within the chapter.

For the APC at the national level, the incident presents a test of how it manages intra-party disputes at the state level. If not addressed promptly, such actions risk deepening factional lines and alienating stakeholders who have invested in building the party. The call for intervention suggests that the matter is being framed less as a logistical issue and more as a question of fairness, inclusion, and the credibility of the party’s internal democratic process in Taraba.