Borno Politicians Abandon PDP, APC in Favour of ADC Ahead of 2027 Polls

With the recent inauguration of David Mark, the interim national chairman of the coalition party (African Democratic Party/ADC), a former president of the Nigerian Senate and a stalwart of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the race for the general elections in 2027 picks up speed, there was a significant defection into ADC in Borno state.

Mattawali Kashim Ibrahim Imam, a former PDP candidate for governor and an APC mainstay in Borno, hosted a special dinner at his Maiduguri home recently, according to a video that went viral on social media. According to sources, the event included talks with numerous political figures in the state in order to prepare for his decision to join the ADC.

Notably, Nigeria’s two principal opposition figures, former PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party (LP) presidential contender Mr. Peter Obi, have joined the new political party after recently leaving their respective parties.

The governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has denied rumors in some online media that he would join five other governors in switching to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the opposition coalition group.

According to our correspondent, Alh. Idris Mamman Durkwa, a former candidate for governor of Borno state, and Hon. Sheriff Banki, a youth organizer and stakeholder advocate, have taken the lead after abandoning the PDP along with thousands of their supporters, families, and associates and setting up camp with the ADC.

Additionally, it was learned that Durkwa, a former federal civil servant who entered politics and stormed Maiduguri last week, was at the forefront of the state’s massive defections, as numerous members of the ruling APC and other opposition parties began resigning from their positions with their ward chairmen.

Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalia, a former House minority leader and candidate for governor, is one of them. He is running for the PDP’s 2023 Borno Central Senate seat.

Alh. Saleh Kida, a candidate for the PDP’s 2023 deputy governorship; Alh. Ali Wurge, a former national treasurer of the party; Hon. Babakura Abba Yusuf, a candidate for the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC); Hon. Abdulrazaq Ahmed Zanna, a candidate for the 2023 PDP’s Bama, Ngala, Kala Balge federal constituency; and other candidates for the House of Representatives.

The list of early defectors also includes Hon. Fali Wubulari, a former member of the House of Assembly from the Askira Uba LGA state constituency, Hon. Maina Justice, a leader of stakeholders in the Jere local government area, and numerous opposition party candidates for the House of assemblies in each of the 27 local government areas.

Similarly, 95% of opposition party stakeholders have jumped ships with their former party leaders at the state, local, and ward levels, as have Hon. Isa Lawan Kangar, the Borno North 2023 senatorial candidate, and all ward and local government party executives.

Hon. Sheriff Banki, a youth mobilizer and stakeholder advocate for the movement (coalition), told our correspondent in Maiduguri about the situation and stated that the flood of defections into the ADC was a blatant sign of the APC’s failure under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He also criticized the PDP leadership for letting the once-great African political party lose support and acceptance because of self-serving agendas.

“Under the chairmanship of Hon. Zanna Gadama, the Borno PDP has remained compromised and sellout to the powers that be, forcing its teaming members to quit,” the youth leader particularly claimed.

Additionally, Banki ascribed the action to “the worsening insecurity bedevilling Nigerians and the economic hardship and frustration by electorate at the local, state, and national level.”

In his own words: “I am pleased to notify you that the recent mass resignations and defections by significant opposition party members, including the ruling APC, in Borno State mark the start of positive developments in the state’s and the nation’s political sector.

“Despite experiencing economic hardships as a result of poor policies and programs, Nigerians, particularly the grassroots, have not been sleeping with their eyes closed in the last two years under the APC-led government, despite President Tinubu’s promise of a Renewed Hope Agenda.” Banki said.

Because ADC is the only political party committed to governing an inclusive democracy and saving its citizens, he urged the decent people of the state to join.