A group of House of Assembly candidates from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, and Jigawa states have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring their support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The defectors announced their move on Monday during a visit to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The delegation, led by Dr. Princess Aslam Aliyu Gambiyar of Zamfara State, stated that their decision was motivated by their confidence in the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda. Gambiyar affirmed that the group is fully prepared to mobilize grassroots support to ensure the President’s victory in the upcoming general elections.
Welcoming the new members into the “progressive fold,” Prof. Yilwatda urged the former ADC candidates to return to their respective wards and immediately begin mobilization efforts. “I am happy that you have resigned and presented your resignation letters to your wards. The job now is to go back to your constituencies and start work,” he said.
During the event, the APC Chairman also addressed critics of the administration, specifically rejecting claims that the North has been neglected. He pointed to several major infrastructure projects currently underway in the region, including the Abuja-Kano-Maiduguri corridor, as well as the Jos-Akwanga, Kwara-Niger, Sokoto-Kebbi, and Kano-Daura road projects.
Yilwatda further defended the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy. He argued that the policy remains necessary to fund critical infrastructure, gas development, and initiatives like the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). He contended that the economic difficulties facing the nation are best addressed through structural reforms rather than a return to the former subsidy regime, which he described as a significant drain on government finances.
Assuring the defectors of their place within the party, Yilwatda promised that their contributions would be recognized. He added that he would recommend the new members to the governors of their respective states to play key roles in grassroots mobilization activities leading up to the 2027 polls.
The defection marks a significant shift in regional political realignments as various parties and political groups continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
