A group of concerned Christian stakeholders and citizens from Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State has formally petitioned Governor Agbu Kefas, alleging what they described as the persistent marginalization of Christians in political appointments within the local government.
In a petition dated June 10, 2026, and addressed to the Governor through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the petitioners expressed concern over what they termed a "significant religious imbalance" in the distribution of key political positions in Gassol Local Government Council.
According to the petition, the recently announced appointments revealed that the Secretary to the Local Government is a Muslim, all seven Supervisory Councillors are Muslims, while only three out of the ten Special Advisers appointed are Christians, with the remaining seven being Muslims.
The stakeholders further noted that most of the major political offices linked to Gassol are currently occupied by Muslims. These positions include the Senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, the Member representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, members representing Gassol Constituencies I and II in the Taraba State House of Assembly, the Commissioner representing Gassol, the Executive Chairman of the Local Government, the Secretary to the Local Government, the Chief of Staff, all seven Supervisory Councillors, and seven of the ten Special Advisers.
They argued that the pattern of appointments has effectively excluded a substantial section of the population from meaningful participation in governance, creating a growing perception of religious imbalance and undermining the constitutional principles of fairness, inclusiveness, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination.
While emphasizing that Gassol has historically enjoyed peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths, the petitioners warned that sustainable peace and development can only thrive when all groups are given a genuine sense of belonging through equitable representation.
The group therefore called on the Taraba State Government to review the recent appointments, ensure future appointments reflect the religious and social diversity of Gassol Local Government, direct appointing authorities to uphold constitutional principles of justice and inclusiveness, and establish a transparent framework that guarantees balanced representation in public offices.
The petitioners maintained that their action was not intended to promote division or target any individual or group but was aimed at strengthening unity, restoring public confidence, and ensuring justice and equal opportunities for all citizens of Gassol Local Government Area.
As of the time of filing this report, the Taraba State Government had not publicly responded to the petition.
The appointment memo
Twisdic Info News will continue to monitor developments on the matter and provide updates as they emerge.