In a major political shakeup in Katsina State, hundreds of supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Sunday defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling a fresh momentum for the rising party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decampees, drawn from all 34 local government areas and representing diverse gender groups, were formally received into the ADC during the party’s state unveiling at the Continental Event Center, Katsina. Membership cards were issued during the event, which was led by Mustapha Inuwa, head of the ADC coalition in Katsina.

Lawal Batagarawa, National Representative of the National Political Coalition Group, cited worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and the collapse of industries under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as major reasons behind the mass exodus from the mainstream parties. He called for unity and expressed confidence in the ADC’s potential to address pressing issues like terrorism, poverty, and illiteracy.

ADC state chairman, Usman Musa Wamba, also voiced optimism about the party’s prospects, urging the youth to support the movement and “enjoy true dividends of democracy.”

One of the most notable defectors, Aliyu Saulawa — former Director of Media for the Buhari Campaign Organisation and ex-National Coordinator of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Movement — accused the APC of failing woefully in its campaign promises, especially in the North. “The APC has not achieved even one percent of what it promised,” he said, adding that the collapse of security and education in the Northwest had left him with no choice but to leave the party.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Katsina State PDP held an expanded caucus meeting titled “Let’s Make Katsina State Work Again” at the party’s headquarters. Addressing concerns over the party’s future, the 2023 governorship candidate, Yakubu Lado, reassured supporters that the PDP structure remains intact. He also attributed the party’s loss in the last election to internal leadership issues, calling for renewed focus and grassroots engagement moving forward.

With this shift in political alliances and rising discontent in the state, Katsina’s political landscape appears set for intense competition as the 2027 elections approach.