(PDP, Sokoto) and Umar Yabo (PDP, Sokoto), all left their parties for the ADC.
Mustapha Tijani, Mohammed Shehu, Dankwa Idris, Hassan Shehu, Tanimu Yusuf, Mohammed Ciroma, Sani Madaki, and Tijani Jobe all swapped the NNPP for the APC.
The APC also gained Ja’afaru Yakubu (PDP, Taraba), Sadiq Tafida (PDP, Taraba), Ibrahim Mohammed (PDP, Kebbi) and Hassan Shinkafi (PDP, Zamfara)
Sani Madaki, who was until his defection the Deputy Minority leader of the House, said his decision to leave the NNPP was a result of the protracted crisis in the party, leading to a legion of court cases and what he discovered about the Kwankwasiyya movement.
He said the crisis in the party has divided its members along the line of supporters of the founders of the party and the former Kano State governor, Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin and former APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, were at the session to welcome eight NNPP defectors from Kano State to the APC.
On Monday, the leader of the Kwankwassiya movement and NNPP chieftain, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, dumped the party for the ADC.
He was joined by supporters, including the former deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo and the 2023 governorship candidate in the state, Yusuf Gawuna.
Announcing his decision to join the APC in a statement on Tuesday, the lawmaker representing Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo and Bunza Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Mohammed blamed protracted leadership crises and internal divisions within the opposition party.
He said the PDP had been “deeply enmeshed in unresolved leadership tussles and litigations” that had weakened its effectiveness as a political platform.
“The persistent leadership crisis and internal conflicts within the party have made it increasingly difficult for committed members like myself to contribute meaningfully to its growth and democratic responsibilities,” he said.
The lawmaker confirmed that he has formally communicated his resignation to his ward leadership in Nasarawa I Ward, Birnin Kebbi, and has also notified the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
PDP senator joins APC
In a related development, the senator representing Niger South, Peter Jiya, on Tuesday defected from the PDP to the APC, citing deepening internal disputes within his former party.
The defection, which adds to the growing wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, was formally conveyed in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read during plenary on Tuesday.
In the letter, Jiya stated that he had resigned his membership of the PDP with effect from March 10.
I Explaining why he did not join the ADC, Agbese said the decision reflected the preference of his constituents.
“The people of my federal constituency are completely different kinds of people. They respect multi-party democracy,” he said.
On rumours of a governorship bid, Agbese said, “I do not only believe in leadership. I also believe much more in servantship. And today we have also adopted the responsibility not to even be servants again, but to become labourers.
“There’s no governorship ambition in sight at the moment. We cannot rule that out in the near or far future, but at the moment, I think it is about the people.”
He also reaffirmed his loyalty to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Leave a Reply