A wave of defections has swept through Jigawa State as key members of the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party dumped their parties for the African Democratic Congress, in a development that signals intensifying political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The high-profile defections, which culminated in a massive rally in Dutse, the state capital, saw thousands of supporters converge to receive a former lawmaker, Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, into the ADC.
Nakudu, who represented Jigawa South-West Senatorial District and chaired the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) in the 9th Assembly, formally resigned from the APC on Friday before announcing his switch to the ADC on Sunday.
Addressing supporters at the rally, the ex-senator said, “I am grateful to my supporters for turning out en masse to receive me into my new party. I promise to work towards a greater Jigawa and the country at large.”
Findings indicate that Nakudu is positioning himself for the 2027 governorship race under the ADC platform, having previously contested the APC governorship primaries in 2023.
In a similar move, a former governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, who flew the PDP flag in 2015 and 2019 and later contested under the NNPP in 2023, also announced his decision to join the ADC.
Ringim, a known ally of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, disclosed that he would formalise his defection at a separate rally in his hometown.
Also sighted at the event was a former senator representing Jigawa North-East, Ubale Shitu, alongside hundreds of supporters, further swelling the ranks of the ADC in the state.
The ADC State Coordinator, Ahmad Mahmud Gumel, described the development as a turning point for the party, noting that the influx of experienced politicians would strengthen its structure.
He said the decision of Nakudu and others to join the party reflected growing public confidence in the ADC as a viable opposition platform.
The mass movement is believed to be linked to grievances arising from the recent party congresses across the APC, PDP and NNPP, with many aggrieved members alleging marginalisation and exclusion.
However, the defections have triggered sharp reactions from the affected parties.
The PDP, through its Publicity Secretary in the state, Umar Kyari, dismissed the development, insisting that no influential member had left its fold.
“They are just a group of political jokers seeking relevance. If they want to test their popularity, they should come out and contest. We will show them what politics is,” Kyari said.
Similarly, the APC downplayed the impact of the defections, describing the move as driven by personal ambition rather than public interest.
The party’s spokesperson, Bashir Kundu, said,
“They are chasing personal interests, not the welfare of the people. Governor Umar Namadi’s achievements speak for themselves.”
Kundu also expressed confidence that the ruling party would witness a counter wave of defections, with more politicians expected to join the APC.
Efforts to get the reaction of the NNPP were unsuccessful as calls to party officials were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
The latest development underscores growing political tension in Jigawa, as parties reposition and consolidate ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 election cycle.
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