By OBSERVERS TIMES .
The recent defection of three senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) underscores the ruling party’s growing strength in northern Nigeria, according to Senator Abdulaziz Yari, representing Zamfara West. Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, highlighted the significance of the move by Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South).
“These are key people who were already members of APC for the first five, six years,” Yari explained. “But unfortunately, as you know, politics is full of tussle, turbulence and so forth. They were not able to secure a ticket in our party in 2023, but deep in them, they believe in APC, which they are members of. So they contested on the platform of the PDP, and now they have decided to come back home. This is a great and tremendous kind of success for our party in Kebbi state, our party in the north-west and our party in northern Nigeria.”
Yari further emphasized the solidarity shown by the Governor of Kebbi, who was present at the National Assembly, and acknowledged the efforts of the APC National Chairman and others who facilitated the defections. Dismissing concerns that the influx of opposition members into the APC signaled a drift towards a one-party state, Yari stated, “Well, that’s what people are saying, but I don’t think so because Nigeria is a larger democracy and we have about 56 parties. So there’s no way you’ll say everybody will come to APC. There are 56 political parties registered, so definitely people have to contest.
There’ll be a kind of competition. Maybe the other parties may be weaker, and APC will continue to be what it is. But at least we are not aiming to be that. We welcome everyone. What we are after is to ensure that there is good governance and success in our 2027 elections. We are praying and working harder to ensure we get the success.”
The senators’ decision to rejoin the APC followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House on May 9, where they formally informed him of their intentions.
