Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has announced what it describes as a major political breakthrough following the defection of more than 23,000 members from rival parties in Lere Local Government Area, a development that could reshape alignments in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The mass defection took place on Friday in Zone 1 of Lere Local Government Area and involved former members of the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the Labour Party. Party officials said the defectors were formally received into the ADC during a public gathering that drew a substantial crowd of supporters, including women and youth groups.
The reception was led by Mallam Bashir Saidu, identified as Coalition Co-Chairman of the ADC in Kaduna State, alongside Mallam Ja’afar Sani, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the North West. Several state and local party executives were present, as well as former members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and representatives of the party’s membership registration committee.
In remarks delivered at the event, ADC leaders described the influx as a sign of growing dissatisfaction with established political platforms in the state. They characterized the decision of the defectors as both strategic and courageous, framing it as a move toward what they called people-oriented governance and a more inclusive political structure.
Party officials assured the new members of equal standing within the ADC, pledging that opportunities for participation in decision-making and candidacy processes would not be restricted by prior party affiliations. They emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilization, particularly in local government areas viewed as politically competitive, and signaled that preparations for 2027 would intensify in the coming months.
While the ADC has historically operated as a smaller opposition platform at the national level, recent shifts in Nigeria’s political environment have opened space for alternative parties seeking to capitalize on voter frustration over economic challenges, insecurity, and governance concerns. In Kaduna State, political dynamics remain fluid, with longstanding competition between the APC and PDP shaping electoral outcomes over the past decade.
The reported scale of the defections in Lere LGA, if sustained, could alter local political calculations. Lere is considered strategically significant due to its voter base and its influence within Kaduna’s broader northern political configuration. Analysts note that mass defections at the local level often signal either internal rifts within dominant parties or tactical repositioning by political actors anticipating shifts in electoral momentum.
Observers caution, however, that the long-term impact of such defections depends on organizational cohesion and the ability of the receiving party to integrate new members without triggering internal disputes. Nigerian politics has frequently witnessed large-scale defections that generate immediate headlines but later result in factional tensions over leadership roles and ticket allocations.
For the ADC in Kaduna, the challenge will be to convert the numerical increase into structured political capital. That includes maintaining updated membership registers, resolving potential overlaps in ward and local government party hierarchies, and ensuring that defectors are meaningfully incorporated into mobilization efforts rather than remaining symbolic additions.
Speakers at the event underscored youth and women participation as central to the party’s strategy. The visible presence of these groups was presented as evidence of expanding appeal beyond traditional political blocs. Kaduna State has a youthful demographic profile, and voter engagement among younger citizens is expected to be a decisive factor in future elections.
The defectors themselves have not yet publicly articulated detailed reasons for leaving their former parties, but party insiders suggest grievances ranged from perceived marginalization in candidate selection processes to dissatisfaction with local leadership structures. Political realignments at the grassroots level often reflect both ideological positioning and calculations tied to future electoral viability.
As Nigeria moves closer to the next electoral cycle, political maneuvering is likely to intensify across states. Kaduna, with its history of competitive contests and high voter turnout, remains a key battleground. The entry of thousands of new members into the ADC could strengthen its negotiating leverage within broader coalition discussions, particularly if similar movements occur in other local government areas.
For now, ADC officials describe the Lere development as a turning point, arguing that it signals momentum toward broader acceptance of alternative political platforms. Whether the shift translates into electoral gains will depend on sustained engagement, strategic coordination, and the broader national political climate in the lead-up to 2027.
The coming months are expected to test the durability of the realignment in Lere and the capacity of the ADC’s Kaduna chapter to consolidate its expanded base into a coherent and competitive political force.
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