Just In: Prominent APC Lawmaker Resigns from Party, New Platform Disclosed Ahead of 2027 Election
- Abdullahi El-Rasheed defected from the ruling APC to the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria
- The growing trend of political defections intensifies as the electoral cycle approaches in Africa's largest democracy
- Mallam El-Rasheed’s party switch reflects shifting dynamics in Gombe state and Nigeria’s legislative politics
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over nine years of experience covering politics, elections, public affairs, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
Gombe, Gombe state - Ahead of the 2027 elections, Abdullahi El-Rasheed, the lawmaker representing Dukku/Nafada federal constituency of Gombe state, has defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
As reported on Wednesday, June 3, by The Cable, El-Rasheed's exit adds to a growing list of defections that have characterised legislative politics in recent months as politicians reposition ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Source: Facebook
Premium Times also noted El-Rasheed's political move.
General elections will be held in Nigeria on January 16, 2027, to elect the president and vice president, members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Elections to elect state governors, and members of the house of assembly will be held on February 6, 2027.
The incumbent president, Bola Tinubu, has made his intentions known to run for a second term under the APC.
ADC's Msheliza knocks Babachir Lawal
Meanwhile, Nicholas Msheliza, the chairman of the ADC electoral committee in Adamawa state, has accused Babachir Lawal, a former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), of attempting to influence and alter the outcome of the party’s recent presidential primary and has threatened to release evidence to support his claims.
The development follows Lawal’s resignation from the opposition party. It will be recalled that the former SGF, in a statement announcing his resignation, had accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of rigging the party’s presidential primary in his favour.
Msheliza, who also served as returning officer for the Adamawa primaries, said Lawal personally contacted him after results were compiled and demanded that he reverse the outcome in Hong local government area (LGA) in favour of businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen over Atiku.
He stated that he rejected the request, insisting that the results accurately reflected the votes cast in the ADC presidential primary election.
Source: Facebook
Read more on ADC:
- 2027 election: ADC responds to rumours INEC refused to recognise David Mark's new leadership
- 2027 election: Did Senator Abdulaziz Yar'Adua dump APC for ADC? Lawmaker speaks out
- 2027 election: ADC speaks as Rabiu Kwankwaso reportedly considers joining party
APC reps defect to PRP
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that ahead of the 2027 elections, two members of the House of Representatives defected from the APC to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
The notices of defection were read by Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker of the House of Representatives, during plenary.
Rabilu Bala, who represents Jama’are/Itas-Gadau federal constituency of Bauchi, defected from the APC to the PRP, while Abubakar Zango (Yola North/Yola South/Gire federal constituency, Adamawa) left the ruling party for the ADC.
Source: Legit.ng
