Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a dramatic political realignment that has sent shockwaves through the opposition camp, a longtime ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has abandoned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the opposition lacks a meaningful blueprint to rescue Nigeria from its mounting challenges. Aslam Aliyu, a prominent Zamfara-born politician who spent nearly two decades in Atiku's political camp and served as leader of the Project Atiku Abubakar (PAA) 2027, announced her resignation from the ADC on Sunday, 6 July 2026, in a statement that has dealt a significant blow to the former vice president's presidential ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In her resignation statement, Aliyu, who also led the Zamfara Top 10 forum of digital media mobilisers, said that after almost two decades of unwavering loyalty to Atiku, she had come to the painful conclusion that the opposition had failed to develop a viable and sustainable national rescue plan. "The ADC has no concrete plan for the country, other than to criticise the government without bringing a single viable solution to the table," she said. "Political culture must move past theatrical criticism and embrace measurable progress".
Aliyu, who described herself as "a mother calling on patriotic Nigerian youths, women, and forward-thinking opposition members," urged them to abandon what she called counterproductive politics and join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a declaration that has further deepened the political divide, she insisted that the opposition cannot unseat the President in 2027. "There is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa, as Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge as the winner of the presidential election come 2027, by the grace of Almighty Allah," she stated.
Her defection comes just months after the ADC held its presidential primaries in May 2026, where Atiku emerged as the party's flagbearer for the 2027 election. The former vice president had unveiled what he described as a comprehensive economic rescue blueprint and a bold security agenda before the party's screening panel. In a bid to strengthen the party's electoral fortunes, the ADC also selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Atiku's running mate on 15 June 2026. Despite these moves, Aliyu insisted that the opposition's promises lacked substance and that the ADC had failed to present a credible alternative to the ruling party.
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has already welcomed Aliyu into the ruling party, describing her defection as a significant boost to the party's ranks. "Welcome to the All Progressives Congress, Gimbiya Dr Aslam Aliyu. You have made the right switch to join millions of other Progressives across Nigeria in furthering the ideals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are proud to have you in our folds," Yilwatda wrote in a post on X on Monday.
Aliyu's departure from the ADC is a major setback for Atiku, who had previously described her as a "top Zamfara politician" during a meeting with her team in July 2025, acknowledging her group's role in past electoral engagements and opposition mobilisation efforts. Her defection also reflects the growing instability within Nigeria's opposition ranks as the 2027 elections draw nearer. The ADC, which had positioned itself as a coalition of opposition forces, has struggled to maintain cohesion amid a wave of defections and internal crises. In recent months, several lawmakers and political stakeholders have abandoned the ADC for the APC and other parties, fuelling speculation about the viability of the opposition's challenge to the ruling party.
Aliyu's criticism of the opposition echoed statements she had made in the past. In August 2025, she had challenged opposition groups to present viable alternatives to Nigerians, questioning their ability to govern. Her latest move, however, marks a definitive break from the political camp she had served for nearly two decades, and her endorsement of President Tinubu's re-election bid signals a significant political realignment in Zamfara State and beyond.
As the 2027 election season gathers momentum, Aliyu's defection serves as a stark reminder of the fluidity of Nigeria's political landscape. Her assertion that the ADC lacks a concrete rescue plan resonates with a growing sentiment among some opposition members who have grown disillusioned with the party's ability to challenge the ruling APC. For Atiku, the loss of a key ally and mobiliser in Zamfara State represents a significant blow to his campaign infrastructure, and the question now is whether other members of his political camp will follow suit. For President Tinubu and the APC, the defection is a welcome boost, reinforcing their narrative that the opposition is fragmented and incapable of presenting a credible alternative to Nigerians. As Aliyu herself put it: "Political culture must move past theatrical criticism and embrace measurable progress". Whether her new political home will deliver on that promise remains to be seen.
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