A prominent former National Women Leader of Nigeria’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hajiya Mariya Waziri, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, signalling a significant political realignment ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Waziri, who held the PDP’s national women’s leadership position, formally joined the APC on Monday at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi. She was received by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris. Her defection was not isolated; she was accompanied by the PDP Women Leader in Kebbi State and several other local party executives, indicating a potential shift in support within the state’s opposition structure.
Addressing a gathering of women supporters, Waziri cited the developmental initiatives of Governor Idris’s administration as the primary reason for her decision. “I have been in the PDP for 20 years without joining any other party. My decision to join the APC today reflects my confidence in the level of development I am seeing in Kebbi State,” she stated. She added that after touring various parts of the state, she was “convinced the APC-led government was delivering meaningful progress.” Waziri pledged to work towards Governor Idris’s re-election in 2027.
Governor Idris, in his remarks, welcomed Waziri, describing her as a “committed and development-oriented leader” with a longstanding history of supporting women in the state. He acknowledged a family connection and praised her past assistance to Kebbi women during her tenure as PDP National Women Leader. The governor assured her of equal footing within the APC and urged her to mobilise women statewide in preparation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anticipated visit to Kebbi.
This high-profile defection underscores the fluidity of Nigeria’s political landscape, where cross-party movements often occur based on perceived government performance or future electoral prospects. For the APC in Kebbi, gaining a figure of Waziri’s national profile and organisational experience within the women’s demographic strengthens its grassroots machinery. For the PDP, losing a former national officer and key state figures represents a setbacks, particularly in mobilising female voters.
The event sets the stage for intensified political activity in Kebbi, with the 2027 governorship race already drawing focus. Waziri’s immediate assignment to mobilise women for President Tinubu’s visit highlights how defections are quickly leveraged for current political capital, aiming to demonstrate broad-based support for the ruling party ahead of future electoral contests.
