Disquiet is mounting in Kebbi State following the sudden defection of three sitting senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
DAILY POST reported that three lawmakers – Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) – on Tuesday officially dumped the PDP for the APC on the floor of the Senate.
The lawmakers cited a collapse of internal democracy, marginalisation of loyal members, and the party’s failure to address insecurity in the state as the reasons for their exists.
Aliero and Abdullahi are veteran politicians with long-standing influence, while Maidoki’s exit strikes at the PDP’s grassroots strength in the southern district of the state.
Sources within the PDP told our reporter that the defections came as a surprise to many stakeholders, especially given the high-profile nature of the lawmakers involved and the apparent lack of prior signals.
The move has triggered murmurs of betrayal within the PDP and sparked frantic meetings among top party officials.
A visit by this reporter to the PDP State Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday afternoon revealed a charged atmosphere.
Several party members stood in groups, engaged in hushed but animated conversations over the news.
When approached for comment, one visibly agitated party loyalist reacted in a harsh manner.
“Go and ask APC why they failed before. You journalists think everything is for headlines. Don’t come here asking me anything,”;; he said, refusing to offer further remarks before storming off.
Meanwhile, a source close to the PDP leadership confided that in the aftermath of the defections, discussions have begun around reaching out to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as a potential political ally ahead of the 2027 elections.
The move, the source said, is seen as part of a broader plan to reposition the party and rebuild its support base in the wake of the high-profile exits.
“The party is exploring all serious options now. Malami is a political force in his own right and someone we believe can help reclaim lost ground,”;; the source noted.
