The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State has suffered a seismic political blow with the defection of three of its most influential senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening the internal crisis within the opposition party and reshaping the state’s political landscape.
Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) formally announced their move to the APC following a high-profile meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The lawmakers were accompanied by APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and Budget and Economic Planning Minister Senator Atiku Bagudu.
The defection had been anticipated after recent political overtures from the APC, but the official switch comes at a sensitive time for the PDP, just weeks ahead of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on May 27, 2025. Analysts say this could significantly affect the party’s strategic direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Idris had previously hinted at the looming realignment during a stakeholders’ meeting in Birnin Kebbi, stating that several PDP figures were on the brink of joining the APC.
The senators’ loyalists had already migrated last year during the governor’s local government tour, signaling cracks in the PDP structure long before the official departure.
The defections not only bolster the APC’s dominance in Kebbi but also underscore the deepening internal rifts within the PDP.
In a sharp response, PDP State Publicity Secretary Sani Dododo accused the senators of deliberately delaying their defection to destabilize the party from within. “They’ve betrayed the trust of party loyalists and caused serious damage,” he said.
The political fallout has prompted an emergency PDP Governors’ Forum meeting — a rare move typically reserved for sitting governors. The agenda reportedly includes discussions on rebuilding party unity, re-evaluating leadership roles, and zoning arrangements ahead of the party’s national convention.
Meanwhile, the political future of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has added another layer of intrigue.
Malami, once a powerful figure within the APC and close ally of President Tinubu, has distanced himself from the party’s CPC bloc and skipped recent APC functions. While he has not declared for any opposition party, speculation is mounting that he may emerge as a key figure in shaping Kebbi’s opposition politics.
This latest chapter in Kebbi’s political evolution highlights the volatility ahead of the 2027 polls and raises questions about who will now lead the fractured opposition in the state.
