On April 28, 2025, widespread rumors of Kebbi State Governor Nasiru Idris planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections sparked significant confusion and tension within the APC in Kebbi, as reported by Daily Post, Naija News, and The Herald. The speculation, fueled by a viral report naming Idris among five APC governors allegedly aligning with PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to challenge President Bola Tinubu, has been exacerbated by the Kebbi State government’s silence for over 48 hours, intensifying anxiety among party members and residents.
The PDP maintains a formidable presence in Kebbi, with all three National Assembly senators—Adamu Aliero (Kebbi North), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi Central), and Garba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South)—representing the opposition party, per Daily Post. Aliero, a former two-term governor (1999–2007), wields significant influence, with many viewing him as a pivotal figure in determining electoral outcomes, per The Sun Nigeria. His 2022 defection from APC to PDP, alongside Abdullahi, following disputes with then-Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, solidified PDP’s foothold, as noted in Leadership. Idris’s narrow 2023 gubernatorial victory, securing 52% of votes against PDP’s Aminu Bande, underscores Kebbi’s competitive political landscape, per Wikipedia.
The APC’s internal crisis has deepened, with some members reportedly engaging with opposition parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), anticipating Idris’s potential defection, per Naija News. This unrest is particularly acute in Idris’s Nassarawa II ward, where party loyalists express uncertainty. APC Kebbi Chairman Muhammad Zuru issued a statement urging loyalty and warning against alignment with “emerging political parties” like the SDP, stating, “As party members, we must remain loyal and sincerely support both the party and the government,” per Daily Post. However, mixed reactions persist. Alhaji Sani Bello, a senior APC member from Birnin Kebbi, dismissed the rumors as cyclical election gossip, asserting Idris’s commitment to APC post his 2023 win, while an anonymous Nassarawa II member voiced concern, saying, “The silence from the government is worrisome… if the governor defects, it could spell the end of APC dominance in Kebbi,” per Daily Post.
Ahmed Jibril, a veteran APC stalwart, suggested Idris might join Atiku, noting, “The APC is fractured in this state and the national level… If the governor makes the move, others will follow. It’s all about survival,” per Naija News. Amid this, some APC members propose Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami as a potential 2027 gubernatorial candidate to unify the party, citing his political clout, per Daily Post. Malami, who withdrew his 2023 gubernatorial bid, remains a prominent figure, having previously contested in 2011, per The Guardian.
Adding to the turmoil, Kabir Sani-Giant, Idris’s Special Adviser on Power and Politics, was recently suspended from APC for allegedly bringing a snake into the Government House to intimidate officials, rendering him unreachable, per Daily Post. X posts reflect the polarized sentiment: @DailyPostNGR and @Kolaqhazim amplified the defection rumors, while @HeraldNG reported Idris denying the claims, pledging loyalty to APC, stating, “Kebbi Governor Denies Defection Rumours, Pledges Loyalty to APC,” per. @MobilePunch corroborated Idris’s dismissal of the rumors, quoting him refuting plans to join four other governors in defecting, per.
Historically, Kebbi has been an APC stronghold, with Bagudu’s 2015–2023 tenure marked by significant infrastructure and educational advancements, per Wikipedia. However, the 2023 elections exposed vulnerabilities, with Atiku winning the presidential vote (50.1% vs. Tinubu’s 44.3%), per Daily Post, and PDP securing all senatorial seats, per TVC News. The Aliero-Bagudu feud, culminating in Aliero’s 2022 defection after accusing Bagudu of rigging APC primaries, continues to shape Kebbi’s fractured political dynamics, per Daily Trust,.
The PDP’s strength, bolstered by Aliero’s influence and the defection of 2,512 PDP members to APC in Shanga in 2022, countered by 6,000 SDP and PDP defections to APC in Yauri, highlights Kebbi’s fluid allegiances, per Leadership. The current crisis, if Idris defects, could mirror past APC losses, such as Aliero’s 2023 senatorial win over Bagudu (126,588 vs. 92,389 votes), per Pulse Nigeria. For now, Idris’s reported denial on X, coupled with Zuru’s call for unity, aims to stabilize the APC, but the party’s future in Kebbi hinges on resolving these internal rifts and countering PDP’s entrenched presence.
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