Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a dramatic political shift that underscores the intensifying contestation within Nigeria’s political arena, former Senator Kabir Garba Marafa of Zamfara Central has formally announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing deep dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and warning against undemocratic tendencies threatening the country’s multi‑party system.
Marafa, a seasoned politician who served in the Senate from 2011 to 2019 and previously coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation in Zamfara during the 2023 general elections, declared his alignment with the ADC on Thursday, urging supporters and constituents to register with the African Democratic Congress and support the party’s quest for political transformation, accountability, and good governance. He framed his departure from the APC as the result of what he described as political manipulation, including alleged efforts to leverage national systems for partisan advantage.
The Wall Street‑educated engineer turned politician did not shy away from criticism of his former party. Speaking to reporters ahead of his defection, Marafa lamented what he saw as neglect of both his political base in Zamfara and the broader democratic process in Nigeria. He asserted that recent events, particularly involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), reveal an electoral environment skewed toward ruling party interests, a condition he said cannot stand in a genuinely democratic republic.
Marafa’s transition to the ADC happens at a precarious time for the opposition party. For months, the ADC has been embroiled in a bitter and highly publicised leadership crisis following internal disputes over which faction holds legitimate control of the party’s national leadership. The controversy escalated after the Court of Appeal delivered a ruling on March 12, 2026, in a case involving rival camps led by Senator David Mark and party stalwart Nafiu Bala Gombe, each claiming rightful leadership of the ADC.
In the wake of that ruling, INEC announced that it would withdraw recognition of both factions’ leadership structures and would refrain from engaging with them or monitoring any party congresses or conventions while the dispute remains unresolved in the courts. This move, INEC said, was undertaken in compliance with the court’s directive to maintain the status quo pending final resolution.
The electoral body’s decision triggered widespread consternation within the ADC and among prominent opposition figures. ADC leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, former governors, and senior politicians, have taken to the streets of Abuja in protest, decrying what they view as interference in internal party affairs and a threat to Nigeria’s political plurality. Demonstrators have called for the resignation or removal of INEC Chairman Prof. Joseph Amupitan, accusing him of partisanship and of crossing constitutional boundaries by commenting publicly on judicial matters.
At the heart of ADC’s objections is the claim that INEC’s interpretation of the appellate court judgment has surpassed its mandate, allowing external influences, particularly from the ruling APC, to undermine the electoral body’s impartiality. In response, the ADC has demanded a formal apology, withdrawal of what it describes as offensive correspondence from INEC, and clear commitments from the commission to respect party autonomy and neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC’s leadership dispute began in earnest in 2025 when then party leader Ralph Nwosu stepped aside amid coalition talks, paving the way for former Senate President David Mark to assume the chairmanship. However, Nafiu Bala Gombe contested the legitimacy of that transition and initiated legal action. With conflicting correspondence submitted to INEC by legal representatives for both sides earlier this year, the electoral body opted to delist the party’s leadership from its official records rather than pick a side.
Despite these internal struggles, the ADC reports a surge in grassroots interest. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, recently stated that more than 500,000 Nigerians have joined the ADC since INEC’s derecognition was announced, an indication of the party’s resilient appeal among segments of the electorate disillusioned with mainstream politics.
Analysts say Marafa’s entry into the ADC not only adds political weight to the party but also reflects broader fragmentation within the APC, particularly in northern states such as Zamfara where intra‑party tensions and defections have reshaped local alignments. Marafa’s critics within the APC had previously accused him of destabilising party structures, even as his supporters argue that his influence could help redefine opposition competitiveness in the run‑up to 2027.
Notably, Marafa’s critique of APC leadership echoes sentiments he articulated when he quit the party in 2025. At that time, he described the APC’s approach as “use‑and‑dump,” particularly pointing to perceived neglect of Zamfara and what he characterised as a failure to deliver proportional political appointments or developmental dividends after the state secured a decisive victory for the ruling coalition in the 2023 presidential election.
Marafa’s defection also adds to a series of defections by prominent politicians from various parties into the ADC. Earlier this year, a number of House of Representatives members defected to the ADC, illustrating a broader trend of political realignment that could significantly alter the balance of power in Nigeria’s legislature as the 2027 elections draw nearer.
Yet the ADC’s internal crisis continues to cast a shadow over its organisational coherence. State party leaders have publicly rejected both the Mark‑led and Bala‑led factions, intensifying calls for unity and adherence to the party constitution as the legal battle over leadership plays out.
Political commentators note that the ADC’s ability to navigate these leadership disputes, maintain electoral credibility, and capitalise on high‑profile defections like Marafa’s will be crucial to its viability as a genuine opposition force. With Nigeria’s political climate increasingly polarized and the ruling APC accused by critics of leveraging state instruments to limit contestation, the ADC’s internal cohesion and strategic direction in the coming months will likely influence its prospects in a competitive general election cycle.
As events unfold, Marafa’s move to the ADC reinforces the fluidity of Nigeria’s political alignments and the challenges major parties face in building unified platforms capable of both internal management and broad electoral appeal. Whether these developments presage deeper transformations in the country’s political landscape or merely reflect momentary tactical manoeuvres will become clearer as legal, organisational, and electoral preparations progress toward 2027.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments