Three Kebbi Senators Dump PDP for APC, Citing Party Crisis and National Interest
Abuja, May 14, 2025 – In a significant political realignment, all three senators representing Kebbi State-Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South)-have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Their defections, formally announced during Tuesday’s Senate plenary, have further strengthened the APC’s majority in the upper chamber and triggered fresh debate about the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.
Reasons for Defection
The senators, in separate letters read by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, cited deepening internal crises, unresolved litigations, and persistent divisions within the PDP as their primary reasons for leaving. Senator Aliero, a founding member of the APC and former governor, emphasized that his decision followed “deep reflection, extensive consultations, and a careful assessment of the current political and socio-economic realities” facing both his constituency and the country14. He criticized the PDP for drifting away from the aspirations of ordinary Nigerians and for its “internal disunity and ideological inconsistency”.
Senator Abdullahi and Senator Maidoki echoed these sentiments, pointing to the PDP’s inability to resolve leadership disputes and its disconnect from the public’s needs. They argued that the APC offers a more viable platform to serve their constituents and contribute to national development.
High-Level Negotiations and Political Impact
The defections came just days after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, attended by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu. While details of the meeting were not initially public, it has now been confirmed that it centered on finalizing the senators’ switch to the APC.
With these defections, the APC now commands 68 seats in the Senate, compared to the PDP’s 30, further consolidating its legislative dominance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Senate Leadership and Party Response
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele dismissed suggestions that the senators were coerced, insisting the move was voluntary and rooted in the spirit of national unity. “No one is being coerced into joining the APC. If anyone claims to be under pressure, it’s definitely not Senator Adamu Aliero,” Bamidele said, emphasizing that the decision was made in the national interest and calling for greater cooperation to address Nigeria’s challenges.
The formal announcement was witnessed by top APC figures, underscoring the political significance of the defections. The PDP, meanwhile, continues to struggle with internal divisions, especially in the North West, a region historically considered one of its strongholds.
Broader Context
The Kebbi senators’ switch is part of a broader trend of high-profile defections from the PDP, including recent exits by lawmakers from Delta State and other regions. Analysts see these moves as both a reflection of the PDP’s internal turmoil and a strategic effort by the APC to consolidate power ahead of key legislative and electoral battles.
