The All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed 11 candidates for the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), as the ruling party steps up mobilisation ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The candidates were formally presented to APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, by the founder of Babatinuubu Fisabililai 2027, Dr Princess Aslam Aliyu, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Aliyu said the latest defections followed the return of 12 ADC House of Assembly candidates to the APC about two weeks earlier.
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She added that the candidates’ identities and political affiliations could be confirmed through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal and records.
According to her, their decision to join the APC reflects confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Receiving the defectors, Yilwatda said their entry into the party would reinforce its efforts towards national unity, economic growth and Tinubu’s re-election.
He said the APC was pleased to welcome members from Sokoto, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano and Plateau states, describing their decision as a demonstration of support for a united and prosperous Nigeria.
The chairman also defended the Federal Government’s infrastructure investments in northern Nigeria, highlighting road construction, railway development, gas infrastructure and other projects.
He cited road projects linking Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, as well as the Kano–Maiduguri corridor. He also mentioned railway projects connecting Kaduna and Kano, with an extension towards Maradi in the Niger Republic.
Yilwatda said the projects demonstrated the administration’s commitment to addressing infrastructure needs nationwide, rejecting claims that northern Nigeria had been neglected.
He further defended the government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and increased capital expenditure, arguing that the administration was addressing financial obligations inherited from previous governments.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise continuity and development as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
The APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Basiru, also welcomed the new members, describing their defection as an endorsement of the party’s commitment to national development.
Basiru said the 2027 elections would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to decide the country’s development direction, urging voters to assess the administration’s performance in infrastructure, education and economic management.
He cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), stating that more than 1.4 million students had benefited from the programme.
The national secretary also defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, insisting that the country would not return to the previous arrangement.
