January 25, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Former Senator Abubakar Gada has defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of deliberately undermining the ADC’s prospects in the state ahead of recent elections.
Gada, who represented Sokoto East Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, announced his defection on Sunday, January 25, 2026, stating that his decision followed prolonged internal disputes and alleged interference by Governor Tambuwal in the party’s affairs in Sokoto.
In a statement, the former lawmaker said he had joined the PDP to contribute to the party’s efforts to “restructure Nigeria and strengthen grassroots democracy.”
Gada alleged that his former party’s leadership in Sokoto was “compromised and hijacked” by political actors aligned with Governor Tambuwal, who he said worked to “sabotage” the ADC’s chances in electoral contests and to stifle its growth in the region.
He described his move to the PDP as a pragmatic choice to remain actively engaged in politics and to pursue what he called “a more inclusive platform for the people of Sokoto State.”
Gada’s defection follows similar party shifts in Sokoto and other northern states in recent years, as politicians reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, a dynamic that political observers say reflects ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s political landscape.