The Nigeria Democratic Congress has recorded a fresh influx of members from the All Progressives Congress following the defection of a group of APC members in Kano State.
The defectors were received by former Kano State Governor and NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who welcomed them into the party and the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
Kwankwaso announced the development in a post on his official social media account on Sunday, saying he was pleased to receive members who had left the APC for the NDC.
The former governor said the new members were from Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State and assured them of fair treatment within their new political home.
He also said the NDC was continuing to grow stronger as it prepares for the 2027 general election.
The latest defection adds to the political realignment taking place across Nigeria ahead of the next presidential election, with politicians and supporters moving between parties as the major contenders build their structures.
Kwankwaso has emerged as one of the prominent figures in the NDC and is expected to play a major role in the party’s preparations for 2027.
The former Kano governor has also continued to strengthen the Kwankwasiyya political movement, which has a significant following in Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria.
The latest defectors’ decision to leave the APC for the NDC could therefore have political significance in Kano, although the immediate electoral impact of the move remains to be seen.
Kwankwaso welcomes defectors
Welcoming the new members, Kwankwaso assured them that they would have a place within the NDC.
The development comes as political parties intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, with defections increasingly becoming part of the political landscape.
For the NDC, attracting members from the ruling APC provides an opportunity to expand its presence and strengthen its structures ahead of the presidential contest.
However, the ultimate significance of the defections will depend on whether the new entrants can translate their political support into broader grassroots mobilisation and electoral gains for the party.