Group photo at the event
The leader of the delegation, Dr Princess Aslam Aliyu Gambiyar from Zamfara State, said the defectors were convinced, beyond all reasonable doubt, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the candidate they believe can take Nigeria to greater heights.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) House of Assembly candidates across four states of Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba and Jigawa have decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They have also pledged to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The representatives of the group of politicians on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the National Chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
The leader of the delegation, Dr Princess Aslam Aliyu Gambiyar from Zamfara State, said the defectors were convinced, beyond all reasonable doubt, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the candidate they believe can take Nigeria to greater heights under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration. She explained that this conviction informed their decision to leave the ADC and work with the APC to ensure the President secures a second term in office.
Receiving the defectors, the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, welcomed them to the party and commended them for placing the broader interests of the country above personal political ambitions.
Professor Yilwatda said: “We have young people who are joining us in the progressive fold. I am happy that you resigned and presented your resignation letters to your wards. The job now is to go back to your wards and start work.”
He described their decision to relinquish their individual political ambitions in order to support what they consider to be the larger national interest as noteworthy, assuring them that the APC would provide a platform for them to contribute meaningfully to the party and the country.
The National Chairman also used the occasion to address what he described as some of the narratives being promoted by opposition politicians concerning the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of Northern Nigeria.
According to him, the claim that President Tinubu is indifferent to the North is not supported by the scale of ongoing infrastructure projects across the region. He cited major road projects, including the Abuja–Kano–Maiduguri corridor, which is about 1000 kilometres, the coastal road, Jos–Akwanga, Kwara–Niger, Sokoto–Kebbi, Laila–Sokoto and Kano–Daura roads, among others.
Professor Yilwatda questioned the argument for reversing some of the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the return of fuel subsidy, noting that such a policy reversal could have implications for ongoing infrastructure and development programmes.
He asked whether returning to the previous subsidy regime would mean stopping major projects, including road construction, gas-related investments and programmes such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), stressing that the government must remain focused on policies that address poverty and create sustainable economic opportunities.
The APC National Chairman further argued that the economic challenges facing the country should be addressed through reforms and development rather than a return to policies that, in his view, contributed to fiscal pressures on governments. He noted that the ability of state governments to meet their salary obligations had been a major challenge before the current reforms, particularly in the North.
Professor Yilwatda also emphasised the inclusive character of the APC and the Federal Government, particularly in relation to national integration and political participation. He cited the presence of Nigerians from different parts of the country serving as commissioners, legislators and local government chairmen in Lagos State as an example of political inclusion.
He said the administration of President Tinubu had demonstrated an approach that accommodates Nigerians across regional and religious lines, describing the President as a technocrat who comes from a religiously tolerant family and has continued to provide opportunities for Nigerians irrespective of their backgrounds.
Addressing the defectors, the National Chairman assured them that they were joining a large political family where their contributions would be recognised. He said their decision to join the APC would be communicated to President Tinubu and indicated that he would also recommend them to the governors in their respective states for appropriate roles in the ongoing mobilisation and grassroots activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged the new members to return to their wards and communities and immediately commence grassroots mobilisation, stressing that joining the APC was not merely about changing political platforms but about becoming active participants in building the party and supporting its programmes.
The development further underscores the growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as politicians and aspirants reassess their platforms and alliances in preparation for the next electoral cycle.
