Why we defected to APC – 3 Kebbi Senators

The political terrain in Kebbi State experienced a dramatic shake-up on Tuesday as all three senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially dumped the opposition party and returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) announced their decision to defect during Tuesday’s plenary at the National Assembly. Their individual letters, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, were read on the floor by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the day’s proceedings.

In similar tones across their letters, the senators expressed disenchantment with the PDP, describing it as increasingly out of touch with the realities and expectations of Nigerians.

For Senator Aliero, a prominent political figure and former governor of Kebbi State, the decision was not made lightly. He said he arrived at it after deep soul-searching and wide consultations with political stakeholders and constituents.

“It’s not about personal ambition or blind loyalty to a party,” Aliero said. “It’s about what works best for the people we were elected to serve.” He emphasized that the PDP’s persistent internal strife and lack of a clear direction had become stumbling blocks to meaningful engagement and development. He praised the APC’s “renewed hope” agenda and pointed out that the ruling party seemed more organized and in tune with Nigeria’s current needs.

In a similar vein, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi spoke of a political homecoming. Abdullahi, who had left the APC in 2022 following internal disagreements, said the issues that pushed him out had now been resolved through the intervention of Kebbi’s Governor Nasir Idris.

“It’s not just a return to the APC; it’s a return to a vision of service and collective progress,” he said. Abdullahi noted that his decision to rejoin the ruling party was driven by a genuine desire to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration and contribute to rebuilding national unity. “At this point in our history, what we need is cohesion—not division. That’s what influenced my return.”

Senator Garba Maidoki, the youngest of the three, also pointed to disillusionment with the PDP and internal crises that he said had made his position within the party untenable. He described the APC as a more stable and purposeful political platform. Maidoki also commended the federal and state governments for improvements in security across his senatorial district, which, he noted, had allowed many displaced people to return to their homes and farms. “This is the kind of progress I want to be part of,” he said.

The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.