The African Democratic Congress (ADC at the weekend recorded major political gains across northern Nigeria as the entire structure of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kaduna State collapsed into its fold, while dozens of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State defected to the party.
The wave of realignments comes amid internal wrangling in the ADC over a forged resignation letter purportedly attributed to its factional National Chairman, Nafiu Bala.
At a high-level coalition meeting held in Kaduna on Saturday, former Governor Nasir El-Rufai presided over what observers described as a “major political realignment” as the SDP state chapter formally collapsed into the ADC.
A statement by the coalition Publicity Secretary, Darius Kurah, confirmed that the gathering, chaired by El-Rufai, brought together leaders from across political divides, including Ja’afar Mohammed Sani, ADC Vice Chairman (North-West); Elder Patrick Ambut, ADC State Chairman; Mallam Bashir Saidu, ADC Leader in Kaduna; members of the SDP State Working Committee; former commissioners; and representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party.
In his remarks, El-Rufai hailed the decision as “a unity of purpose” ahead of 2027, stressing that Kaduna could only achieve progressive governance when leaders put aside narrow interests.
“What we are witnessing is not just an alliance of party structures, but a unity of purpose,” he said.
“Politics should not be about division but about collective service to our people. We must provide Kaduna State with an alternative that is credible, people-centred and truly progressive.”
ADC Vice Chairman (North West), Sani, described it as “a new dawn for Kaduna politics,” while Elder Ambut welcomed the defectors into “the ADC family.”
The coalition resolved to set up a membership registration and revalidation exercise across the state, aimed at consolidating its grassroots base ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Senator Abubakar Gada on Sunday received dozens of APC defectors into the ADC.
The new members cited frustration with the ruling party’s handling of insecurity and the economy.
Senator Gada said the mass defection reflected growing public discontent, particularly in Sokoto’s Eastern Senatorial District.
“Our people are faced with troubling security challenges that have crippled agriculture, which is the mainstay of our economy. Poverty, unemployment and hunger are now widespread,” he said.
According to him, the influx of new members into the ADC signalled Nigerians’ readiness to embrace “a coalition movement to rescue the nation.”
Amid the political gains, the party also moved to quell internal controversy after a resignation letter dated May 18, 2025, allegedly authored by its factional chairman, Hon. Nafiu Bala, began circulating.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Christopher Okechukwu, the ADC dismissed the document as “fabricated, fraudulent and maliciously circulated by desperate political actors.”
“The fraudulent document lacks official insignia and was designed to destabilize the party,” Okechukwu said, accusing former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, and unnamed external actors of attempting to hijack the party’s structures.
He maintained that Bala remained the constitutionally recognised leader of the ADC, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reject “unauthorized documentation” and urging security agencies to investigate the forgery.
The statement emphasized that the party “remains committed to democratic development under Nafiu Bala’s leadership” and called on members nationwide to resist misinformation campaigns.
The Punch
