A former Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance and political ally of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, has defected from the African Democratic Congress to the All Progressives Congress alongside other political figures and supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sa’idu announced the move on Saturday at a reception organised in Zaria, Kaduna State, to welcome him and other defectors into the APC. He was joined by former ADC governorship aspirant Jafaru Sani, former senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari and other political associates.
Sa’idu, who also served as Chief of Staff during El-Rufai’s administration, claimed that more than 200,000 card-carrying ADC members had moved to the APC with his group. However, the figure has not been independently verified.
Explaining the decision, Sa’idu said his group, Kaduna De-Initiatives, had helped establish the ADC’s political structures across the state but decided to leave after disagreements over the party’s leadership and candidate selection process.
He alleged that some individuals had taken control of the party, creating a situation he and his supporters considered unacceptable. He added that the group compared candidates who emerged from the ADC primaries with those of the APC before deciding to return to the ruling party.
Sa’idu described the development as a return to the party his group had previously helped build. He also claimed that the ADC had lost significant political influence in Kaduna State following the defections.
Welcoming the new members, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani described their return as an important development for the APC. He assured them that all party members would have equal opportunities to participate in party activities and seek elective positions.
Sani also announced that the APC had raised its target for votes in Kaduna State from two million to three million ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the party planned to conduct house-to-house campaigns to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates.
The defections follow disagreements within the ADC over its governorship primary, which was won by Isah Ashiru. Jafaru Sani, who came second, reportedly rejected the outcome.
The political realignment adds to the preparations by parties across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections. The actual electoral impact of the defections will depend on whether the new party affiliations translate into voter support.
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