Mass Defection Hits Jigawa APC, NNPP

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

A gale of defections has hit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Jigawa state as they have lost key personalities to the new coalition platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The development is a fall out of the ongoing political realignment across the country preparatory to the 2027 general elections. It was also gathered that the development was a climax of the dissatisfaction arising from the recently concluded congresses, where a lot of people felt allegedly felt schemed out of things in the state.

Among the prominent names exiting their parties includes a three-tine governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigerian Peoples Party, (NNPP) Aminu Ibrahim Ringim: two-term Senator representing Jigawa South West Senatorial District Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, another notable chieftain, Ubale Shitu.

Nakudu, a two-term member of House of Representatives representing Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency, and the Senator representing Jigawa South West Senatorial District, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), was the Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) in the 9th Assembly.

Nakudu, who officially resigned from the APC via a letter to his Sundimina Ward in Birnin Kudu local government area on Friday, officially declared for the ADC in a well attended ceremony in Dutse the state capital on Sunday.

Similarly, Ringim, a political protege of the former Kano State governor and erstwhile Defence Minister, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on the other hand was the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship polls in the state is expected to formally declare his membership of the ADC any moment.

Though, he was silent on his next political move, sources closed to Nakudu confirmed that he would contest the governorship of the state in the 2027 elections on the platform of his new party.

It would be recalled that Nakudu contested against governor Umar Namadi during the 2023 governorship primaries on the APC platform, where he came second.

Speaking to reporters shortly after his declaration, Nakudu expressed gratitude to his supporters for turning out en-mass to receive him into his new party and promised to work towards a greater Jigawa and the country at large.

One of the leaders of ADC in the state Bashir Adamu Jumbo who welcomed the senator into the party pledged equal opportunities within the party structure. He however called on the party faithfuls up n the state to work towards the unity and growth of the party so they could take over power in 2027.