Ex-Assembly candidates who joined APC are not our members — ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has disowned former State House of Assembly candidates who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the individuals received by the APC were not members or candidates of the party.

The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known on Monday while reacting to the reception of the former ADC Assembly candidates by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

ADC dismisses reported defection

Abdullahi, in a post on his X handle, described the reported defection as a political stunt and questioned the identities of the individuals presented by the APC as former ADC candidates.

“The APC cannot assemble random individuals at its secretariat, confer imaginary ADC credentials on them and then announce their defection. These people are not our candidates,” Abdullahi said.

His comments came shortly after the APC announced that a group of former ADC State House of Assembly candidates had formally joined its ranks.

The development adds a new dimension to political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as parties continue to receive politicians and supporters from rival political platforms.

Defectors declare support for Tinubu

Earlier, the former ADC Assembly candidates said they had left their former party for the APC because of what they described as the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The group also declared support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election.

The former candidates, led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, were received into the APC by Yilwatda at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Mohammed Hassan, a former candidate from Zamfara State, appealed to the APC leadership to give them the opportunity to contribute to the party’s activities.

Hassan said their decision was influenced by what they considered the progress recorded by the Tinubu administration, adding that they wanted to work for the continuation of the government.

Group promises mobilisation

Hassan said the group was ready to mobilise support for the APC and take what he described as the party’s message back to their respective communities.

“We respectfully ask the National Chairman and the entire leadership to receive us as brothers and partners, to give us the opportunity to contribute and support us as we take this new message back to our people,” he said.

He added that the group’s commitment was to support the APC, mobilise their people and contribute to development and public service.

“On behalf of all former candidates, I say thank you sir, thank you for welcoming us. We have come to work, we have come to contribute,” Hassan said.

Yilwatda welcomes former candidates

Receiving the defectors, Yilwatda assured them that the APC would accommodate them and provide room for their participation in the party.

The APC chairman said the significance of their decision was that they had voluntarily withdrawn from the electoral contest and abandoned their political ambitions in what he described as the overall interest of the nation.

“You are welcome to this party. You are welcome to this family. Like I told you last time we met, this family will accommodate you,” Yilwatda said.

He added that he would recommend them to their respective governors, local government areas and wards to enable them to participate in the party’s activities.

APC defends Tinubu administration

Yilwatda also defended the performance of the Tinubu administration, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

He said contrary to what he described as opposition criticism, the Federal Government had implemented several programmes and projects in the region, especially in infrastructure and empowerment.

According to him, Northern Nigeria had also benefited significantly from the student loan scheme and other government initiatives.

Yilwatda further described Tinubu as an experienced politician who promotes political inclusivity and religious tolerance.

“The President is one of the most experienced politicians in Nigeria that builds an inclusive home. He builds a religiously tolerant home where Christians and Muslims live together. He built Lagos that accommodated everybody,” he said.

The APC reception and the subsequent reaction from the ADC have therefore produced conflicting accounts over the political status of the individuals involved, with the APC presenting them as former ADC candidates who have joined its ranks while the ADC insists that they were neither its candidates nor members.