The political realignment in Katsina State has gained further momentum as Governor Dikko Radda received politicians and supporters who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, into the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The defectors, drawn from Safana Local Government Area, were formally presented to the governor at the Katsina State Government House on Monday evening.
The delegation was led by the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Abduljalal Haruna Runka, alongside the Chairman of Safana Local Government Council, Abdullahi Sani.
Receiving the new members at the Government House Council Chamber, Radda described their decision to join the APC as a demonstration of confidence in his administration and its development agenda.
“We are happy to receive you into the APC. Your decision demonstrates your confidence in our leadership and commitment to the development of Katsina State,” the governor said.
Radda assured residents of Safana that his administration would continue implementing projects and programmes aimed at improving the welfare of residents.
He also urged existing and new APC members to remain united and work towards strengthening the party.
Presenting the defectors, Deputy Speaker Runka said they had come to formally reaffirm their loyalty to the APC.
He also commended the Radda administration for development projects executed across Safana Local Government Area.
“We appreciate His Excellency for the support and development projects his administration has brought to our people. We assure him of our continued support and loyalty,” Runka said.
The Chairman of Safana Local Government Council, Abdullahi Sani, also pledged continued cooperation among political stakeholders in the area to strengthen the APC and support the governor’s development agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the former PDP members, Umar Ya’u said Radda’s alleged fairness, inclusive style of governance and developmental projects influenced their decision to leave the opposition party.
Ya’u recalled benefiting from the state’s subsidised fertiliser programme while he was still a PDP member, describing it as evidence of what he considered the governor’s non-discriminatory approach to governance.
“I was surprised when I was told that I was among those who would receive government-subsidised fertiliser, even though I was then a member of the opposition PDP,” he said.
He added that the governor’s development projects, alongside the efforts of the Safana Local Government chairman, convinced him and his supporters to join the APC.
Also speaking for the ADC defectors, Umme Yakubu Safana said they joined the ruling party because of their confidence in Radda’s leadership and vision for Katsina State.
“We are happy to join the APC and become one family. We are ready to work with other party members and support the development of Katsina State,” he said.
The PDP delegation was led by Yahaya Abubakar, popularly known as Dan Area, while the ADC delegation was led by Umme Yakubu Safana.
The latest defections come amid ongoing political realignments in Katsina State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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Several prominent political figures have recently moved away from the ADC.
Among them is former Secretary to the Katsina State Government and ADC governorship aspirant, Mustapha Inuwa, who defected to the APC.
Former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, who was also linked to the ADC governorship race, has meanwhile joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
The developments highlight the shifting political alliances in Katsina State as political parties and their major actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 election season.