More than 4,500 former members of two major opposition parties in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State. The decampees, including notable local figures and their followers, were formally received on Thursday at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, the state capital.
The defection represents a significant consolidation for the APC in the northwestern state. Hon. Adamu Indallah, a senior party chieftain, welcomed the group, stating their shift in allegiance was driven by confidence in the APC’s leadership at all governmental tiers. He noted the new members had pledged their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid and that of Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, in the 2027 general elections, promising the party’s continued efforts to secure victory.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Engr. Balarabe Umar, a former NNPP local government and state assembly candidate, cited the “visionary, people-centred and results-driven leadership” of President Tinubu and Governor Namadi as key reasons for their decision. He specifically pointed to the implementation of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in synergy with Governor Namadi’s 12-point state development blueprint. Umar asserted this collaboration was already yielding tangible socio-economic benefits for residents, particularly in livelihood enhancement, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance.
This mass defection underscores a dynamic period of political realignment in Nigeria, where state-level political calculations often intersect with national governing agendas. For the APC, absorbing prominent opposition figures from the PDP and NNPP in a key northern state bolsters its organizational strength ahead of the next electoral cycle. The event highlights the perceived effectiveness of the Tinubu administration’s policy initiatives at the subnational level, a narrative the ruling party is keen to promote nationally.
The new members have committed to actively campaigning for the APC’s candidates in 2027, potentially influencing local political dynamics in Jigawa. Their arrival adds to the APC’s numerical advantage in the state, where the party already controls the governorship and a majority in the state assembly. The long-term impact will depend on the integration of these decampees and their ability to sway voter sentiment in the coming years.
