The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership in Kebbi State is making frantic last-minute efforts to prevent the defection of three serving senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), NEWS BULLETIN has learned.
Barring any last-minute changes, Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) are set to officially declare their switch to the APC on Tuesday. This follows a high-level meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The senators were reportedly led to the meeting on Friday by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. Sources say they are planning to defect alongside a large contingent of supporters, including current and former PDP executives from the three senatorial districts in Kebbi State.
The impending defection has triggered alarm within the Kebbi State PDP chapter. On Friday night, PDP State Chairman Usman Bello-Suru convened an emergency meeting of party stakeholders in a desperate bid to forestall the looming political shake-up.
A source privy to the discussions revealed that various strategies were considered, including the possibility of securing a court injunction or making personal appeals to the senators. However, the prevailing consensus was to engage with the lawmakers directly and persuade them to remain with the PDP.
“Several options were explored, including legal measures, but it was agreed that the best approach would be to convince them to stay and continue building the party they have contributed to over the years,” the source explained.
Efforts to reach the senators have reportedly been challenging. “Since the defection news broke, they have stopped taking calls from the party chairman,” the insider added.
The crisis comes just weeks after PDP Chairman Usman Bello-Suru publicly dismissed rumors of defection within the party. At the time, he stated, “In response to insinuations that some PDP members in the state are planning to defect to the ruling party, I want to assure our members that PDP remains one indivisible entity committed to playing its role in opposition.”
However, the unfolding events seem to contradict that assurance, particularly with a high-profile figure like Senator Aliero at the heart of the defection plans. Aliero, a former two-term governor of Kebbi, ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and current senator, is no stranger to political cross-carpeting, having previously switched allegiances between PDP and APC.
Despite the looming crisis, some PDP members remain unfazed. “If they decide to leave, life goes on,” a senior PDP chieftain told DAILY POST. “PDP is like a military barracks—soldiers come, soldiers go, but the barracks remains.”
Should the defections proceed as anticipated, the APC’s numerical strength in the 10th Senate will rise to 68, while the PDP’s count will drop to 30—a significant shift in the Senate’s power dynamics.
