Agbu Kefas (born 12 November 1970[1]) is a Nigerian politician and retired Nigerian army lieutenant colonel who has served as the governor of Taraba State since 2023.[2]
Agbu Kefas | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Taraba State | |
| Assumed office 29 May 2023 | |
| Deputy | Aminu Abdullahi Alkali |
| Preceded by | Darius Dickson Ishaku |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 November 1970 Wukari, North-Eastern State (now in Taraba State), Nigeria |
| Political party | Peoples Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
|
Early life, Education and Christian Life
editAgbu Kefas was born on 12 November 1970, in Wukari, Taraba State (formally Gongola State), Nigeria. He is a younger brother of the late Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas.[3] Kefas is a product of some of the most reputable institutions of learning in Nigeria, namely; the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Defense Studies in 1994, the University of Ibadan in Oyo State, where he bagged a Masters Degree in Legal Criminology & Security Psychology in 2005 and the Delta State University, Abraka where he obtained a Masters Degree in Public Administration in 2008. Also, he has a number of prestigious Executive education certifications from global institutions like Harvard Kennedy School in US. He is also a member of the Deeper Life Bible Church. He has been a member of the church from a very young age.
Political career
editAgbu Kefas retired from the Nigerian army after 21 years of service. Upon his retirement, he was appointed chairman Governing board of directors Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) between 2013 and 2015.[4] He was also a member of the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative from 2016 to 2019 before he fully joined politics by emerging the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Taraba State in 2020.[5] In 2022, Agbu Kefas contested in the Taraba State PDP gubernatorial primary election and won.[6][7][8] Kefas ran for office of the Governor of Taraba State in March 2023 as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, the state's ruling party. He won the election, defeating second-place Muhammad Yahaya of the New Nigeria People's Party by just 100,337 votes.[9]
Personal life
editAgbu is married to Agyin and they have four children.[10]
References
edit- ^ John, Mkom (29 May 2023). "Col Kefas, A Rising Star In Nigerian Politics And Challenges Ahead". leadership.ng. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Admin (13 August 2020). "Kefas Agbu emerges PDP Chairman for Taraba State". The Sun. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Andrew, Ojih (4 October 2021). "Taraba: Commodore Kefas was patriotic, hardworking – Ishaku". Blueprint. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Charles, Akpeji (10 April 2015). "NIMASA Boss Counsels Against Religious Politics In Taraba". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Mulega, Aluor (13 August 2022). "Former NIMASA boss, Agbu Kefas emerges Taraba PDP Chairman". dailypost.ng/. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Admin (8 June 2022). "2023: Agbu Kefas Receive Taraba PDP Certificate Of Return". Daily Trust. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Femi, Bolaji (17 July 2022). "2023 about Taraba people not me – Kefas". Vanguard. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Emeka, Nze (11 October 2022). "2023: Taraba PDP candidate Kefas appoints spokesperson". Blueprint. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ Richard Akinwumi (21 March 2023). "2023: PDP's Kefas Agbu wins Taraba governorship election". Premium Times. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Andrew, Ojih (4 October 2021). "Taraba: Commodore Kefas was patriotic, hardworking – Ishaku". Blueprint. Retrieved 14 December 2022.