Politics

Kano earthquake as Yusuf dumps opposition for APC ahead of 2027 battle

Published

2 months ago

January 26, 2026

The Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and Labour Party have strongly criticised the All Progressives Congress following the defection of the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the ruling party, insisting that the development will not alter the political reality ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to the governor’s decision to join the APC on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ini Ememobong, and his ADC counterpart, Bolaji Abdullahi, said in separate interviews with The PUNCH that the defection reflects moral failure rather than political strength, stressing that moves driven by self-interest would not translate into votes for the ruling party.

Also, the Interim National Chairman of the faction, Senator Nenadi Usman, warned against confusing elite defections with widespread popular support, emphasising that opposition parties will continue to play a significant role ahead of the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, welcomed the Kano State governor into the party, describing the defection as a boost for the APC and a validation of its commitment to delivering democracy’s dividends to Nigerians.

Despite the support of a former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Governor Yusuf announced his resignation from the NNPP on Friday, following weeks of speculation and rising political tension in the state.

In recent months, several PDP governors have defected to the APC, including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and, most recently, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.

Beyond the governors, several influential political figures—such as National Assembly members, state legislators, former governors, ex-ministers, and other party leaders have also left the PDP for the APC.

President Bola Tinubu and other APC leaders have consistently rejected claims that the ruling party aims to establish a one-party state following the defection of the governors, maintaining that the APC remains inclusive and open to all Nigerians.

Speaking on Yusuf’s resignation, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Oladipo Johnson, in a statement on Friday, described the move as a betrayal of the Kano electorate and a blow to the Kwankwasiyya Movement that the governor once led.

He added that history shows that those who trade loyalty for convenience and integrity for deception rarely escape the judgment of the people.

NNPP stated, “We deeply regret that Governor Abba, a man entrusted by the people of Kano State on the strength of his decades of unwavering loyalty and dedicated service to the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has now chosen to betray that sacred trust. By this action, he risks returning the state to the very forces that have long opposed its progress and the aspirations of its people.

“It is noteworthy that our party, the NNPP, had recently conducted congresses for its leadership from the ward to the national convention, held on 20th December 2025, which the governor himself was present at, and INEC had supervised. The party had also participated in and won two supplementary elections for Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa constituencies, respectively held in August 2025, about three months ago. The assertion he made of an irredeemable crisis in the party is therefore baseless and an afterthought.

“This is not the first time such a betrayal has occurred in the political history of Kano. In the early 1980s, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi defected from the People’s Redemption Party to the Nigerian People’s Party, taking with him the vast majority of elected officials—including nearly all local government chairmen and councillors, 120 out of 126 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, and most Kano representatives in the National Assembly.

“Yet, the electorate delivered a resounding verdict: In the 1983 gubernatorial election, Rimi was humiliatingly defeated by Mallam Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo of the PRP, finishing second. Even more telling, of the 120 state assembly members who joined Rimi’s defection, only one was re-elected—an outcome that should serve as a sobering lesson to any politician contemplating the path of disloyalty.”

The party called on its members and the people of Kano State to remain calm and avoid discord, emphasising that the loyalty of Kano’s citizens to principled leadership will ultimately triumph.

Despite objections from the NNPP, Yusuf is scheduled to officially join the APC today, marking a major shift in the political landscape of Kano State, the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, confirmed in a statement released on Sunday.

The statement highlighted that Governor Yusuf initially joined the APC in 2014 to contest the party’s primary for the Kano Central Senatorial seat, a position he yielded to Kwankwaso.

The Kano State governor is set to officially register as a member of the APC in Kano, alongside 22 members of the State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and all 44 local government chairmen.

He is also expected to inaugurate the APC’s e-registration exercise in the state.

Speaking on the significance of the registration exercise, Yusuf stated, “This is not just a political move; it is a step to ensure that governance remains people-centred and that our developmental agenda reaches every corner of Kano State.”

On the broader implications of his return, he added, “Our focus is on building unity, strengthening political cooperation, and ensuring that the people benefit from effective governance, irrespective of party affiliations.”

Reflecting on his earlier years in the APC, the governor remarked, “I am returning to a party I know, a platform where experience meets structure, and where we can collectively pursue progress for Kano State.”

In a related development, former Kano State Governor and ex-APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, who is currently abroad, is expected to return today.

A former Chief of Staff to Ganduje, Mohammed Garba, revealed on Sunday that he had travelled to London but would be back in Nigeria on Monday.

“He is presently in London and will return to the country tomorrow, Monday, ” Garba said.

Garba further stated that it is highly likely the former Kano State governor might head straight to Kano upon arrival to officially welcome the defecting governor.

“We are not yet certain, but there is the possibility that he may head straight to Kano to receive the governor,” he added.

Reacting, the PDP National Publicity Secretary accused Yusuf and other defecting governors of betraying their electoral mandate.

In an interview, Ememobong insisted that the APC would face defeat in 2027 despite the recent wave of defections.

He stated, “The troubling part is that this is not how the system is supposed to work. It does not address the issue of people who were elected, nor does it speak to the promises that were made. There are moral questions involved. A social contract exists between elected officials and the people, and that contract is entered into on the basis of a political party.

“Once elected on that platform, it is morally wrong to abandon it midway. If you intend to contest another election, you should wait until the end of your tenure and then contest on another platform. Alternatively, you should vacate the office and allow the party on whose platform you were elected to retain the mandate, especially when the party you are joining was a fierce opponent.’’

Continuing, he noted, “It is shocking that people now suffer from selective amnesia. After going through an election that was widely described as a political war, with all that transpired known to everyone, they simply take the fruits of that victory and hand them over to the APC, which was their main contender. All of this speaks to the moral deficiency of many political leaders, despite attempts by some to justify it.

“This will not count as an advantage for the ruling party in 2027. As I have said before, this does not diminish any political party. Electoral strength is determined only during elections, not by the defection of governors. Kano, for instance, remains an NNPP state until the next election.

“A governor may defect or plan to defect, but that does not change the political complexion of the state. If you look at the 2023 electoral map, it clearly shows that elections are contests decided by voters.

“This sudden push for defections is a sign of APC cowardice, not political strength. Presidential elections are not won by forcing people to defect or by making the electorate suffer.

“The people did not defect along with these governors or others who have joined the APC. The ruling party has failed, and Nigerians who have not defected and will not defect will vote the APC out. The Kano State governor and other defecting governors, who are holding mandates belonging to other parties, cannot save the ruling party.”

The ADC publicity secretary stated that governors defecting to the APC are seeking personal protection rather than serving the people, adding that failed governors will not be able to deliver their states to the party in the 2027 elections.

Abdullahi stated, “Well, obviously, we do not doubt that he is joining for the same reason other governors have joined: to seek protection. They all know that the easiest way to secure a second term is by joining the ruling party. They believe that is where they will get a free ride into a second term.

‘’They also believe they are answering the call of the APC—that whoever joins their party, no matter how sinful he is, will have his sins forgiven. That is why they are joining. They are not joining because they believe what the ruling party is doing to their people is right, or because they care about the people. They do not care about the people; they only care about themselves. So we are not surprised.

“It is not an advantage for APC, because when governors defect, some of them have already failed their people. And joining the ruling party does not mean the people are joining them. We have evidence of this from the last election. In Delta State, the governor belonged to one party, yet another party won the election. The same thing happened in Edo, and the same in Lagos, as a matter of fact. So, the situation is not as bad as it is being portrayed. We do not see this as any real advantage for the ruling party.

“If elections are conducted freely and fairly in any of these states, most of these governors will realise that their approval ratings among their people are actually below 20 per cent. They know exactly why they are doing what they are doing. So even within the APC, defeat awaits them all, because of the zero performance of the governors and President Bola Tinubu.”

On her part, the LP Interim National Chairman, Usman, said the movement of political office holders did not automatically translate to electoral dominance.

“I would reply by giving you a proverb in Hausa that says, just because all the governors have trooped to one side does not really mean that you should conclude that the opposition is not going to have any impact come 2027. I don’t really look at it like that,” she said.

She also expressed uncertainty over the motivations driving opposition governors to abandon their political platforms for the ruling party.

“Honestly, I don’t know what is making them flock to the APC. We hear a lot of news around. We hear stories of people who say that if you join the APC, your sins are forgiven. So, it could be that, I don’t know,” Usman added.

In a response, the APC Director of Publicity dismissed the opposition’s claims, while welcoming Yusuf and other returning members, noting that the defections reflect widespread acceptance of the party’s principles.

Ibrahim stated, “The party is looking forward to his arrival. After all, he was once a member of the APC before defecting to another party, the NNPP, so this move is more like a homecoming. While the party awaits his formal registration, it is expected that the national leadership will take a position once he officially joins.

“The more people who join, the better, especially when they are committed democrats, because the APC aims to continue to strengthen democracy, make it more vibrant, and deliver greater democratic dividends to the people. An increase in participation, support base, and membership reflects positively on the party, showing that its principles, policies, and programs are being welcomed by Nigerians. That is why these leaders are joining.

“As for claims from the PDP, ADC, LP and NNPP, including statements about Governor Yusuf and other defecting governors, that Nigerians will work with opposition parties to remove the APC in 2027, such wishes are simply speculation. While wishful thinking is allowed in a free society, it does not necessarily reflect the will of the majority. Given the way the APC continues to be embraced, the idea of a coalition ganging up to unseat the party remains a dream that will not come true.”

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Politics

APC, PDP Abuja conventions of varied colours

Published

13 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

General Editor, Politics, Taiwo Adisa reviews the national conventions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in Abuja, observing that the two achieved predetermined ends.

Before the November 15, 2025, national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Ibadan, Senate President Bukola Saraki acted like the Nostradamus of our political space when he dropped the advice that the party should rather put in place a caretaker committee. The party, however, shunned the advice, went ahead with the convention, and landed in further travails. But the group supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital (FCT), Nyesom Wike, went ahead to set up a caretaker Committee before the tenure of the former chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, ended in December 2025.

That caretaker committee now appears to be the cornerstone of Wike’s control of the party, even as many other bigwigs have started joining the trail.

Within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the groundswell for the affirmation of Prof Nentawe Yilwatda-led National Working Committee was unmistakable ahead of the March 28 convention. There were hardly any issues as the ruling party spoke with one voice and tested its adoption of the consensus option, a move that would possibly be perfected during the forthcoming primaries for the various elective posts on offer for the 2027 polls. As expected, the APC convention sprang no surprises, and all went well. President Bola Tinubu, who spoke at the convention, spoke of unity among Nigerians as he chided the opposition parties for failing to put their houses in order.

Of all the conventions, the gathering of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Velodrome of the MKO Abiola National Stadium is the one that generated intense heat.

The night before

All eyes were on the Wike-led PDP ahead of the March 29-30 convention. The day before the convention, a report indicated that the faction of the party led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) had headed to the Supreme Court to appeal the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the Ibadan convention. There was palpable tension in Abuja, as members of the PDP were largely unsure of the exact situation. There were concerns about whether INEC would monitor the convention, even as some members of the Turaki-led faction went to town with the indication that the convention would not hold because an appeal had been lodged with the Supreme Court. That, however, was doused in the evening house when Wike appeared on an inspection tour of the Velodrome location of the convention. He told the nation that all was well with the planned convention.

The two remaining governors of the party were clearly against the convention. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, sanctioned the return to the Supreme Court, despite the push for reconciliation. One of the leaders who also spoke against the convention is presidential hopeful Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, who stated that a parallel convention might not be advisable.

The Saraki intervention

The former Senate President had attempted to play the peacemaker before the end of last year and was at a stage appointed to lead the search for peace by the Wike-led faction. As the convention drew closer, Saraki appeared on Channels Television, where he expressed his desire to attend the March 29 convention. It was gathered that he was also privy to several top-level meetings held in Abuja between Tuesday and Friday, centering on the need for a convention that could guarantee that the teeming members of the party are not disenfranchised in the 2027 polls.

As stated by a Saraki insider: “The view of the former senate president is primarily about the fate of the members as he advised that the feuding leaders of the PDP should take concrete steps to protect the interests of the members.”

He was also said to have insisted that the party must seek to put in place an NWC that would be recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while he urged party leaders to utilise the opportunity of the convention to scale the hurdle of having a leadership that is recognised by INEC.

Wike’s victory lap and convention proper

Having established that there was no court injunction stopping the conduct of the convention, the Wike group moved fast enough, and the venue was the Velodrome of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja. It was an irony that at the same venue in 2022, Wike had lost the presidential primaries to former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar, a development that had some spiralling effects on the PDP, leading it to the greatest haemorrhage it has ever witnessed since its formation in 1998.

So, for Wike, it was a triumphant entry for the FCT Minister at the Velodrome, and every observer saw the joy in Wike on the day. He danced around the complex and was very energetic in his steps. The fact that the convention could hold for him was a victory for his caucus. After all the preliminaries at the convention ground, including the nullification of earlier motions ratified by the previous National Executive Committee, which named Damagum as substantive national chairman, the convention went ahead to elect Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed Takushara as the new chairman. Whether he is a factional chairman or he would assume the full powers as the chairman of the PDP would be known after the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Questions over Saraki’s role

Several Nigerians have questioned whether Saraki was with Wike on this route or if he was working to prepare a platform for the 2027 presidential contest. He is a member of the highest decision-making organ of the party, being a former number three man in the country, so he is one of the elders. So what was Saraki driving at, roving around the Wike group and seeking an elusive peace with the other group? Sources close to the former governor of Kwara State said that he had seen the PDP as the veritable platform through which his supporters in the state could seek political power in the next election.

Said a source close to the former Senate helmsman said: “It is believed that he sees the PDP as the only platform that is capable of presenting a solid opposition to the ruling APC with its broad national outlook and structure. Remember, the PDP has never changed its name, and that makes it resonate with a lot of Nigerians.

“Then, Saraki’s supporters back in Kwara have affirmed that they want all their aspirants to contest elections on the PDP platform as it is their sure bet for regaining power in the state. A meeting of the party’s stakeholders in Ilorin last Wednesday agreed that its delegates from the state should attend the Abuja convention and that if they observe that INEC was present and other necessary recognition to validate the activities and resolutions from the convention are present, they will hold another meeting to finally decide on their political future.

“Saraki is of the view that the popularity of the PDP in Kwara State is unmistakable and that his supporters prefer the platform to mobilise the grassroots. Since all politics is local, the former Senate President is determined to listen to his supporters and pursue plans at the national level that will give maximum advantage to his supporters back home. Thus, the survival of PDP and its ability to field candidates in the 2027 polls is important to Saraki.”

It was also learnt that the former Senate president was calculating that the PDP was better placed to benefit from the possible implosion of the ruling party, which he said has become so big that its fall could be imminent. He believes many of the defectors to the APC and others who have gone to displace or put at a disadvantage will either return to the PDP or work for the PDP. He also told his supporters that a prominent gubernatorial aspirant who previously left the PDP for APC in Nasarawa State, David Ombugadu, has returned to the PDP and that many others are willing to return if they fail in the primaries.

To his joy, the convention was attended by INEC, and a stage could be set for a huge happening within the former ruling party, as the Wike group has been offered the legal right to run the party. Only a Supreme Court’s reversal, as hoped by Tanimu Turaki’s faction, could change Wike’s Abuja dance steps.

What next for PDP?

The former ruling party appears to have boxed itself into Wike’s corner for a long time, when the former Rivers State governor was left to cater for the soul of the party. The fact that many of the party’s governors refused to attend to its welfare strengthened the former Rivers man, and today, maybe he is reaping the fruits of his tenacity in funding the party over the years. However, a thick cloud still hangs in the air, and only the Supreme Court validation would clear the fog. As things stand, the Turaki faction may have to find avenues to fix its ambitious members in a platform that could enable them to contest elections, if words are not coming in early enough from the Supreme Court. As stated by a source, the task of reconciliation should be the duty of the Wike-led team, now that a convention recognised by INEC has been held. “The new NWC must move to withdraw all cases in courts and encourage the other faction to do the same,” the source said, adding that leaders like Saraki must continue to ring the bell of unity and peace. Incidentally, Gbenga Hashim also stated during the week that reconciliation is still possible even after the convention. Hopefully, elders like Sule Lamido, Bukola Saraki, Senator Abba Moro, and Chief Dan Orbi, among others, would serve the party with their wealth of experience to find a lasting peace under the umbrella.

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Politics

Ganduje, Badaru meet Tinubu amid defection surge

Published

14 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received in audience former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and former Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, in separate meetings at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting came a day after the former governor of Kano State and New Nigeria People’s Party chieftain, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, defected to the African Democratic Congress.

Also defected alongside Kwankwaso were former deputy governor and 2023 governorship candidate of the APC in Kano, Nasiru Gawuna; former deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, and a host of supporters.

There were reports that some lawmakers from the state were planning to join Kwankwaso in the ADC.

Our correspondent spotted Ganduje, dressed in a green ‘Babanriga’, leaving the State House at approximately 4:15 pm, while Badaru departed about 15 minutes later at 4:30 pm.

Both men declined to speak with journalists about the purpose of their visits.

Ganduje served as APC national chairman from August 2023 until July 2025, when he resigned from the position.

He was succeeded by Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, who was formally elected as substantive national chairman at the party’s 4th Elective National Convention held on March 27, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Prior to his role as party chairman, Ganduje served as Kano State governor from 2015 to 2023.

Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa State (2015-2023), served as defence minister in Tinubu’s cabinet before his recent resignation from the position.

The separate timing of their exits suggested the meetings were individual consultations rather than a joint session with the President.

The visits may be connected to ongoing party reorganisation following the recent APC national convention and defection surge in Kano and Jigawa states.

It was reported that some chieftains of the party loyal to Badaru may be heading to the ADC in Jigawa State, following the crisis with Governor Umar Namadi.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ganduje had accompanied Governor Abba Yusuf and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, to the House of Representatives to witness the defection of eight NNPP members of the House to the APC.

Speaking to newsmen after the event, Ganduje assured that Kano will deliver President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf in the 2027 elections.

He played down the defection of Kwankwaso to the ADC and assured that the party would be victorious in 2027.

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Politics

27 Reps dump PDP, others for APC, ADC in a defection tsunami

Published

14 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The wave of political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election continued on Tuesday as 27 members of the House of Representatives switched political platforms, with the All Progressives Congress gaining 14 new members and losing two.

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, while presiding over Tuesday’s plenary, announced the defections, lamenting the decision of two of his colleagues to dump the APC for the opposition.

The defections strengthened the fortune of the ruling party in the Green Chamber as its membership rose to about 280 out of the 360-member parliament.

The Peoples Democratic Party, which has lost many of its members, comes a distant second with 38 members, the African Democratic Congress has 15 members, while the Labour Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party are left with 12 and five members respectively.

The Accord and the Action Peoples Party have two members each.

Recall that during the inauguration of the 10th House in June, 2023, the APC had 181 members, while the opposition parties had 179, with the PDP leading with 115 members.

Last week, The PUNCH exclusively reported the imminent defection of the House Deputy Spokesman, Philip Agbese.

On Tuesday, the Benue lawmaker left for the LP, anchoring his defection to the lingering political crisis between Governor Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

With his defection, Agbese, who represents Ogbadigbo/Okpokun Federal Constituency, became the first lawmaker elected on the platform of the APC to dump the party for the minority party.

Other defectors included Ademola Akani and Lanre Oladebo Omoleye (PDP to Accord), Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) and Anthony Nwogu (LP, Imo) to APP.

On his part, the House Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, led the defectors from LP to the ADC.

“I am leaving LP due to the crisis in the party. The crisis has affected the collective pursuit of a common agenda, and we believe that the decision to join the ADC will enhance my contribution to national development,” he said.

Others who left for the ADC included Harris Uchenna (LP, Anambra), Yahaya Tongo (PDP, Gombe), Oluwaseyi Sowumi (LP, Lagos), Aliyu Mustapha Abdullahi (APC, Kaduna, who recently defected from PDP to APC), Mani Maishinko (PDP, Sokoto), Abdulsamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) and Umar Yabo (PDP, Sokoto), all left their parties for the ADC.

Mustapha Tijani, Mohammed Shehu, Dankwa Idris, Hassan Shehu, Tanimu Yusuf, Mohammed Ciroma, Sani Madaki, and Tijani Jobe all swapped the NNPP for the APC.

The APC also gained Ja’afaru Yakubu (PDP, Taraba), Sadiq Tafida (PDP, Taraba), Ibrahim Mohammed (PDP, Kebbi) and Hassan Shinkafi (PDP, Zamfara)

Sani Madaki, who was until his defection the Deputy Minority leader of the House, said his decision to leave the NNPP was a result of the protracted crisis in the party, leading to a legion of court cases and what he discovered about the Kwankwasiyya movement.

He said the crisis in the party has divided its members along the line of supporters of the founders of the party and the former Kano State governor, Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin and former APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, were at the session to welcome eight NNPP defectors from Kano State to the APC.

On Monday, the leader of the Kwankwassiya movement and NNPP chieftain, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, dumped the party for the ADC.

He was joined by supporters, including the former deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo and the 2023 governorship candidate in the state, Yusuf Gawuna.

Announcing his decision to join the APC in a statement on Tuesday, the lawmaker representing Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo and Bunza Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Mohammed blamed protracted leadership crises and internal divisions within the opposition party.

He said the PDP had been “deeply enmeshed in unresolved leadership tussles and litigations” that had weakened its effectiveness as a political platform.

“The persistent leadership crisis and internal conflicts within the party have made it increasingly difficult for committed members like myself to contribute meaningfully to its growth and democratic responsibilities,” he said.

The lawmaker confirmed that he has formally communicated his resignation to his ward leadership in Nasarawa I Ward, Birnin Kebbi, and has also notified the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

PDP senator joins APC

In a related development, the senator representing Niger South, Peter Jiya, on Tuesday defected from the PDP to the APC, citing deepening internal disputes within his former party.

The defection, which adds to the growing wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, was formally conveyed in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read during plenary on Tuesday.

In the letter, Jiya stated that he had resigned his membership of the PDP with effect from March 10.

“I wish to notify you and the Senate that I have resigned my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party effective today,” the letter read.

Explaining the reason for his decision, the lawmaker pointed to unresolved internal conflicts within the party.

“This action is premised on quarrels and irreconcilable divisions within the party,” he said.

Jiya further announced his decision to continue his political career under the APC.

He also expressed appreciation to the PDP for the opportunity to serve.

The development comes barely 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission formally recognised a faction of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Agbese dismisses gov ambition

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Mr Philip Agbese, said his defection was driven by the wishes of his constituents, as he dismissed speculation linking it to a governorship ambition in Benue State.

Speaking to journalists, he said, “Well, first and foremost, let me thank the people of Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency for the opportunity to be here.

“Secondly, we are about to kickstart another round of the tournament, and the people, of course, having critically examined the machinery that brought us here, and they realised some faults, have decided to board another plane, which is the Labour Party.

“So let me thank Her Excellency, Senator Nenadi Usman, the national chairman of the Labour Party, and the entire leadership, for accepting us to be part of the Labour family.”

He added, “I want to categorically put it on record that our defection is about service to our people. It is about making ourselves available again for service come 2027 and our people, the largest population of our people, have taken a very firm position, to say that the Labour Party is the only available vehicle that will take us to the expected destination, come 2027, and as a servant of the people, we have no choice than to be part of the Labour family. That is why we’re here today.”

Agbese, who described himself as the new political leader of the party in Benue, pledged loyalty to the LP and ruled out importing internal wrangling from his former party.

“This is a new family. I’m just coming in, and as the new political leader of the party in Benue state, we also have our national leader, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti. He is the national leader of this great party.

“So I think there is a need for us to step down our old behaviour from the APC, wear a new lens and see things differently.

“So, not until we do that, we don’t really know, but I believe that Senator Nenadi Usman has accepted me into this party and to lead the party to victory.”

Explaining why he did not join the ADC, Agbese said the decision reflected the preference of his constituents.

“The people of my federal constituency are completely different kinds of people. They respect multi-party democracy,” he said.

On rumours of a governorship bid, Agbese said, “I do not only believe in leadership. I also believe much more in servantship. And today we have also adopted the responsibility not to even be servants again, but to become labourers.

“There’s no governorship ambition in sight at the moment. We cannot rule that out in the near or far future, but at the moment, I think it is about the people.”

He also reaffirmed his loyalty to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

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