BREAKING: Atiku’s Northern Base Dismantle as Three Influential PDP Senators Defect to APC after meeting with Tinubu 

Atiku’s Northern Base Dismantle as Three Influential PDP Senators Defect to APC after meeting with Tinubu

 

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s long-standing northern political influence suffered a major setback on Friday as all three serving senators from Kebbi State defected from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

The defections followed a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, underscoring a deepening shift in Nigeria’s northern political landscape.

 

The senators — Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) — were formally received by APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

 

Their move is seen as a blow to the PDP’s grip in the North and a strategic victory for the APC as it consolidates power ahead of future elections.

 

The meeting was attended by top northern political figures including Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu — all prominent allies of the ruling party.

 

Political analysts say the defection is more than symbolic. “This isn’t just about Kebbi,” said Musa Aliyu, a political commentator based in Kaduna. “This is about the unraveling of a political alliance that once stood firmly behind Atiku Abubakar in the North. The implications will ripple across the region.”

 

The senators’ departure further isolates the PDP in the Northwest geopolitical zone, raising questions about the party’s viability and Atiku’s future political ambitions, especially after his repeated presidential bids.

 

Observers suggest the APC is tightening its grip on the National Assembly as it prepares to push key legislative agendas and maintain cohesion within its ranks.

 

The loss of three senators from a single state not only weakens the PDP numerically but also psychologically, as it continues to grapple with internal divisions and leadership challenges.

 

As Nigeria’s political chessboard continues to shift, Friday’s defections may well mark the beginning of a broader northern realignment — one that could redefine power structures ahead of general elections.