Katsina APC gains momentum as ADC and PDP members defect to Governor Dikko Radda’s party ahead of the 2027 elections
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda on Monday, 10 August 2026, received politicians and supporters who defected from the African Democratic Congress and Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress at the Government House in Katsina, in a fresh boost for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
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The defectors came from Safana Local Government Area and were presented to Radda by the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Abduljalal Haruna Runka, alongside Safana Local Government Chairman, Abdullahi Sani.
The latest movement adds to a series of political realignments in Katsina, where the APC is seeking to consolidate its position while opposition parties work to retain their members and structures ahead of the next general election.
Receiving the new members, Radda described their decision to join the APC as a sign of growing 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 programmes and projects aimed at improving their welfare.
He also urged existing and newly admitted party members to work together to strengthen the APC ahead of future political contests.
Runka said the delegation had come to formally reaffirm its support for the ruling party, while praising the governor for projects executed across Safana.
“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.
Sani similarly pledged the support of political stakeholders in Safana, saying they would work together to strengthen the APC in the area.
The defectors also pointed to specific government interventions as part of the reasons for their decision.
Speaking for the former PDP members, Umar Ya’u said Radda’s approach to governance and what he described as the governor’s fairness towards opposition supporters influenced his decision to leave the PDP.
Ya’u recalled that he benefited from the state government’s subsidised fertiliser programme while he was still a PDP member.
“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.
According to Ya’u, the intervention, alongside development projects in the area, persuaded him and his supporters to join the APC.
Umme Yakubu Safana, speaking for the defecting ADC members, also cited confidence in Radda’s leadership and vision for Katsina.
“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, while Safana led the group of defecting ADC members.
The movement is unlikely to be viewed simply as a local party switch.
With the 2027 elections approaching, defections can affect the strength of party structures at grassroots level, particularly in local government areas where political mobilisation often depends heavily on established networks and influential community figures.
For the APC, the latest arrivals provide another opportunity to project unity and confidence in Radda’s administration.
For the ADC and PDP, the departures highlight the continuing challenge of maintaining cohesion and retaining political supporters as competition for influence in Katsina intensifies.
Also read: Benue Assembly Leader Quits APC for PDP
The immediate political value of the defections will depend on whether the new APC members can translate their declarations of support into sustained grassroots mobilisation as the 2027 electoral cycle gathers momentum.
