APC Gains Fresh Momentum in Jigawa as Opposition Members Defect Ahead of 2027

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State has recorded a fresh wave of defections as members of three opposition parties crossed over to the ruling party in Dutse Local Government Area ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defectors, drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), announced their allegiance to the APC during a rally held in Limawa Ward, Dutse. The development comes amid intensified political mobilisation across the country as parties position themselves for the next general elections.

The rally reportedly attracted thousands of APC supporters, with Tribune Online reporting that more than 10,000 party supporters, predominantly women, attended the gathering. The event was coordinated by Ambassador Salisu Muhammad Seeker, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umar Namadi on Student Matters.

Receiving the new members on behalf of the APC leadership, State Chairman Ahmed Garba, represented by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Bashir Kundu, welcomed the defectors and assured them that they would receive equal recognition and opportunities within the party irrespective of their previous political affiliations.

Garba expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in the state, saying the latest influx of opposition members, combined with the large turnout at the rally, demonstrated growing grassroots support for the party. He consequently predicted a convincing victory for the APC in Jigawa at the 2027 elections.

Kundu attributed the support for the APC in Limawa and surrounding communities partly to political appointments given to indigenes of the area as well as infrastructure projects undertaken by the federal and state governments. He said the initiatives had contributed to economic opportunities, particularly for young people in the area.

Also present at the rally was Ibrahim Yakubu Yargaba, the APC House of Assembly candidate for the area and a former chairman of Dutse Local Government. Yargaba urged residents to maintain their support for the party and vote for its candidates, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi, in the forthcoming elections.

Yargaba described the size of the gathering as evidence of the acceptance of the programmes and policies of the Tinubu and Namadi administrations. He argued that continued electoral support would enable the government to consolidate its programmes and attract further development to the area.

The APC candidate, however, warned supporters against complacency, urging them to intensify grassroots mobilisation and prevent opposition parties from regaining political ground in the ward. His comments underscore the growing importance of local political structures as parties prepare for the 2027 electoral contest.

The latest development adds another layer to the political realignment taking place in Jigawa. In April, the APC elders’ committee in the state endorsed President Tinubu and Governor Namadi as the party’s preferred candidates for the 2027 presidential and governorship contests respectively, while also backing a consensus-based approach to candidate selection.

However, the movement of politicians and supporters between parties has not been one-directional. In November 2025, more than 1,600 APC supporters in Limawa and surrounding areas were reported to have defected to the PDP, highlighting how political loyalties in the state can shift as the 2027 contest approaches. With the latest defections to the APC, both the ruling party and its challengers will be watching grassroots movements closely as the political battle for Jigawa gathers momentum.