In a significant political realignment, three senators representing Kebbi State, Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki have officially defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, citing irreconcilable internal issues within the PDP and a renewed belief in APC’s transformative agenda.
The defections were formally announced at Tuesday’s plenary session of the Senate in Abuja via individually signed letters read by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session.
In his letter, Senator Aliero, a former governor of Kebbi State and one-time minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said his return to the APC followed months of introspection, consultations with stakeholders, and a careful review of the prevailing political and socio-economic climate.
“Politics must never be about personal loyalty to a platform—it must be about solutions and service,” he stated. Aliero criticized the PDP for its internal divisions, lack of direction, and failure to offer a clear, forward-looking agenda. “The PDP has lost touch with the aspirations of the very Nigerians it claims to represent,” he added.
According to Aliero, the APC, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and the Renewed Hope agenda, has shown signs of ideological reawakening and practical governance solutions.
He emphasized that his move was not for personal benefit but to ensure effective representation and development for his constituents.
Echoing similar sentiments, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi described his defection as a “homecoming,” having been a founding member of the APC before leaving in June 2022 due to internal conflicts in Kebbi politics.
He noted that those issues have since been resolved under Governor Nasir Idris and that rejoining the APC aligns with his desire to contribute to national development.
Abdullahi, who previously served as Senate Leader in the 9th Assembly, stressed the importance of unity and collaboration at this critical stage of Nigeria’s democratic journey. “It is politically imperative for me to join President Bola Tinubu and support the government’s efforts,” he said.
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Senator Garba Maidoki attributed his defection to the PDP’s prolonged crisis and the need for a more stable political platform.
He highlighted the security improvements in Kebbi South as a motivating factor, noting that the APC-led federal government had deployed security forces that reclaimed over 100 villages from the grip of bandits.
“With my people returning to their farms and normal life resuming, I believe in the Renewed Hope agenda and want to work fully within that framework,” Maidoki said.
Reacting to the defections, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele praised the senators’ decisions and dismissed any suggestions of coercion.
He noted their individual accomplishments and integrity, stating that their actions were in the interest of national progress, not personal gain.
“These are men of stature, not easily swayed by pressure,” Bamidele declared. “This is a time for collaboration across party lines. What matters now is not political affiliation but the collective interest of Nigerians.”
With these defections, the APC continues to consolidate power in the Senate, further shifting the political balance in its favour amid growing calls for national unity and bipartisan cooperation in tackling Nigeria’s numerous challenges.
NAN
