Mass Defection Hits PDP In Niger As 5000 Members Join ADC

Over 5,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from all 25 local government areas of Niger State have dumped the party and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The decision was made public after an expanded meeting held at Haske Hotel in Minna, where party leaders took turns to confirm the defections across each local government.

The mass exit marks a heavy blow to the PDP in the state, especially as it continues to struggle in recent elections. Many of those who left blamed the party’s leadership for allegedly running the PDP like a branch of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of abandoning their opposition role and working in the interest of the government.

At the meeting, a communique was read out, stating that the party had failed to serve as a reliable alternative in both the state and the country. The defectors claimed the PDP had not only lost focus but had also been reduced to a shadow of its former self under uninspiring leadership.

The communique also expressed frustration with the direction of national governance. The attendees cited insecurity, widespread poverty, and the worsening economy as signs of failure at every level. They said they no longer believed the PDP had the strength or integrity to challenge the status quo.

Several prominent PDP figures were present at the gathering, including ex-members of the House of Representatives Baba Shehu Agaie and Abdullahi Shehu Rijau, former governorship hopeful Mukhtar Ahmad, and past government officials like Ndako Kpaki and Musa Ma’ali.

The defectors pledged their loyalty to the ADC, describing it as a more promising platform for opposition politics in the country. They also praised the emergence of a new leadership team in the ADC, which includes former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi, saying these appointments had renewed their confidence in the party’s direction.

Plans are underway to formally unveil the ADC in Niger State, as the new members vowed to begin grassroots mobilization and voter registration. They also promised to work with other opposition groups to reshape political participation in the state ahead of the next elections.