At least 10 lawmakers in Niger State may defect from APC to PDP

At least 10 members of the Niger State Assembly in Nigeria may this week defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Premium Times Nigeria reported this, citing informed sources.

Consultations on the defection

According to the publication’s sources, consultations between the lawmakers involved in the possible defection and PDP representatives are at an advanced stage. The legislators are expected to announce their decisions after completing consultations with constituents and political allies.

The names of the lawmakers who may change parties and the exact date of a possible announcement had not been independently confirmed at the time of publication.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Realignment ahead of elections

Reports of the possible defections emerged amid political realignment in the state ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election. Muhammad Nami, the former head of Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service, recently joined the PDP, and on Saturday he was nominated as the party’s candidate for governor of the state.

Nami had previously sought the APC nomination in the Niger South senatorial district. The PDP said his nomination was intended to strengthen the party’s efforts to regain control of the state, where the APC is in power.

Meanwhile, Tanko Beji, the former PDP chairman in the state, joined the APC. He explained his move by saying that he sees the ruling party as a platform for contributing to the development of Niger State.