Former ADC House of Assembly Candidates From 4 States Defect to APC

Former ADC House of Assembly Candidates From 4 States Defect to APC

  • Several House of Assembly candidates of the ADC from Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba and Jigawa states defected to the APC on Monday
  • The defectors visited APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda at the party secretariat in Abuja to announce their move
  • Yilwatda urged the new members to return to their wards and begin grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over eight years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

FCT, Abuja - A group of House of Assembly candidates who contested under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, and Jigawa states have formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They declared their support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.

ADC candidates from 4 states defect to APC
APC welcomes ADC candidates from 4 states. Photo credit: APC/ADC
Source: Twitter

The defectors made the announcement on Monday during a visit to APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda at the party's national secretariat in Abuja.

Read also

2027 election: New twist as APC chairmen finally reject Wike’s coalition, ask minister to defect

Dr Princess Aslam Aliyu Gambiyar from Zamfara State, who led the delegation, said the group's decision to leave the ADC was driven by their confidence in Tinubu's administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

As reported by Vanguard, she added that they were ready to actively support the party's efforts towards the president's second term.

APC chairman welcomes defectors

As reported by The Nation, Yilwatda received the new members warmly and immediately tasked them with returning to their wards to begin grassroots work.

"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 said.

The APC chairman also took the opportunity to push back against opposition claims that the President Tinubu- led Federal Government had neglected Northern Nigeria.

Read also

Wike under pressure ahead of 2027 election as APC govs plan Tinubu meeting, ‘he can't be on two sides’

He pointed to a range of road projects currently underway across the region by Tinubu's administration.

He cited the Abuja-Kano-Maiduguri corridor, Jos-Akwanga, Kwara-Niger, Sokoto-Kebbi, Laila-Sokoto, and Kano-Daura roads as evidence of the administration's commitment to the North.

Yilwatda defends fuel subsidy removal

On the economy, Yilwatda warned that reversing the removal of the fuel subsidy could cut funding for infrastructure and programmes such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Yilwatda assured the defectors that their contributions would be recognised within the APC, and said he would inform President Tinubu of their decision.

He also said he would recommend them to governors in their home states for involvement in mobilisation activities ahead of 2027.

The defections are the latest in a series of political realignments taking place across party lines as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections.

ADC House of Assembly candidates from four states defected to the APC and pledged support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid
APC chairman welcomes ADC defectors, tells them to begin grassroots work ahead of 2027 Photo credit: Nentawe Yilwatda/APC
Source: Twitter

Former governorship candidate dumps ADC

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that Tonye Ibraye dumped the ADC on September 24, 2026, citing a prolonged leadership dispute threatening the party's 2027 election plans.

Read also

2027 election: Division rocks APC over governors’ feud with Wike

Ibraye warned that candidates produced under a contested ADC leadership risked having their nominations built on unstable legal ground.

The former Rivers governorship candidate said he would consult supporters across all 23 LGAs before deciding his next political move.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adekunle Dada avatar

Adekunle Dada (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Adekunle Dada is a Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a B.Sc. in Mass Communication from Lagos State University, Ojo, and brings over eight years of professional media experience to his role. He has spent his career refining his craft at PM News, The Sun, and Within Nigeria. In 2024, he earned a certification in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. He can be reached at adekunle.dada@corp.legit.ng