By Abdulkareem Haruna

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections draw closer, the political landscape in Borno State is experiencing a significant realignment, with a likely surge of defections to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).  This comes in the wake of the recent inauguration of David Mark, a former Nigerian Senate President and a long-time Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, as the interim national chairman of the newly formed opposition coalition, which has adopted the ADC as its platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The wave of defections in Borno gained particular attention following reports of a private dinner hosted by Mattawali Kashim Ibrahim Imam, a former PDP governorship candidate and a notable figure within the APC in Borno, at his Maiduguri residence. Sources close to the gathering indicated that the event served as a forum for discussions among key political figures in the state, signaling their intent to join the ADC.

This local shift mirrors a broader national trend, as two of Nigeria’s leading opposition figures from the 2023 general election – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate for the PDP, and Mr. Peter Obi, who ran under the Labour Party (LP) banner – have also recently aligned with the new political coalition after parting ways with their previous parties.

However, the growing influence of the ADC coalition has not gone unchallenged. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has publicly refuted widespread online speculation that he would lead a defection of five other governors to the ADC, reaffirming his loyalty to the governing APC.

“We have become aware of a fictitious and mischievous social media report circulating in certain quarters, alleging plans by me to decamp from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside five other governors,” a  statement penned by Dauda Iliya, the Official Spokesman of the governor, quoted Zulum as saying.


“This is entirely false and exists only in the imagination of its sponsors. They are detractors who have made no meaningful contribution to the progress of Borno State or Nigeria,” he continued.

“It is a classic example of cheap, politically motivated speculation designed solely to distract us and create unnecessary political tension.”

In Borno, the defection movement has been spearheaded by figures such as Alh. Idris Mamman Durkwa, a former governorship aspirant, and Hon. Sheriff Banki, a prominent youth mobilizer and advocate. Both have abandoned the PDP, bringing thousands of their supporters, families, and associates into the ADC fold. Mr. Durkwa, a retired federal civil servant who recently returned to Maiduguri, is reportedly at the forefront of this mass exodus, which includes members from various opposition parties and even some from the ruling APC, who have begun submitting their resignations to their respective ward chairmen.

Among the notable figures who have defected are Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalia, a former House minority leader and governorship aspirant, and the PDP’s 2023 Borno Central Senatorial candidate. Other prominent individuals joining the ADC include Alh. Saleh Kida, the PDP’s 2023 deputy governorship candidate; Alh. Ali Wurge, a former PDP national treasurer; and several 2023 House of Representatives candidates, including Hon. Babakura Abba Yusuf from Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Hon. Abdulrazaq Ahmed Zanna for the Bama, Ngala, Kala Balge federal constituency.

The list of early defectors also features Hon. Maina Justice, a key stakeholder leader in Jere local government area; Hon. Fali Wubulari, a former House of Assembly member representing Askira Uba LGA state constituency; and numerous House of Assembly candidates from across all 27 local government areas. Additionally, Hon. Isa Lawan Kangar, the 2023 Borno North Senatorial candidate, along with 95 percent of opposition party stakeholders, including former executives at state, local government, and ward levels, have reportedly switched their allegiance to the ADC.

Hon. Sheriff Banki, a key youth mobilizer for the new coalition, stated in Maiduguri that the widespread defections into the ADC reflect a perception of failure within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s APC-led government. He also criticized the PDP leadership, alleging that “the Borno PDP under the Chairmanship of Hon. Zanna Gadama has remained compromised and sellout to the powers that be, thereby forcing its teaming members to quit.”

Mr. Banki attributed the growing discontent and subsequent defections to “economic hardship and frustration by the electorate at the local, state and national level and the worsening insecurity bedeviling Nigerians.”  He asserted that the “massive defection and resignation by prominent members of the opposition parties including the ruling APC… is a beginning to good things happening in the political industry in the state and the country as a whole.”

“Nigerians, especially the grassroots, have been promised a Renewed Hope Agenda by President Tinubu,” Banki told journalists. “Unfortunately, in the last two years into the APC-led government, the reverse is the case, as people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed, despite facing economic hardships due to bad policies and programs.” He urged residents of Borno to join the ADC, presenting it as the only political party committed to inclusive democracy and the welfare of its people.

Borno State’s political scene has long been dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), formerly the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Except in 2023 when the PDP grabbed a house of Reps seat in Southern Borno, the APC has historically secured nearly all elective positions at both the state and national levels. In 2015, following the merger that formed the APC, Borno State aligned with the national ruling party, further weakening the opposition’s prospects. This has historically pointed to very weak opposition political parties in Borno State.

However, a brewing coalition led by Kashim Imam and Idris Durkwa suggests the APC may likely face a stronger challenge in the upcoming elections. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 43 percent of the vote in the last general election (won by the APC), the opposition maintained that the results did not accurately reflect the will of the electorate.

It’s on record that APC polled 54.2% of the 2023 presidential election while the PDP scored 41% .