A member of the House of Representatives from Katsina State, Shehu Tafoki, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after failing to secure a consensus ticket for the 2027 general election. The lawmaker, representing Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa, purchased the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms, according to his legislative aide, Ahmad Bawa. The former deputy speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly met with the PDP leader in the state, Yakubu Lado, and presented his forms for blessing at the weekend.
APC in Katsina had decided to choose its candidates for the 2027 elections by consensus. It formed a consensus committee headed by former Governor Aminu Masari. The party's central zonal youth leader, Ismail Yandaki, also left the APC for the PDP after failing to get a ticket to represent Kaita in the House of Assembly. Surajo Abduljabbar, who sought the APC consensus ticket to contest the Bakori/Danja seat, followed the same path.
Meanwhile, the race for the Kano Central Senatorial District took a new twist as seven aspirants seeking the APC ticket resolved to forgo their ambitions in support of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. The major alignment that produced Shekarau as the consensus candidate came in the absence of Abdulsalam Zaura, a major contender. Those who sacrificed their political ambitions to support Shekarau include Usman Bala, former Chief of Staff to Abdullahi Ganduje; Shaaban Sharada, former media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari; Danyaro Yakasai; Abbas Sani Abbas, former commissioner under Ganduje; Abdulfatah Zango, a retired NNPC staff member; and Shehu Isa's driver. The resolution was reached after a high-level reconciliation meeting convened by Governor Abba Yusuf in Abuja.
In Yobe State, Governor Mai Mala Buni declared that the party was prepared for a free, fair, and transparent primary for its governorship aspirants if ongoing consultations fail to produce a consensus candidate. Buni noted that though former Secretary to the State Government, Baba Wali, emerged as the preferred candidate following resolutions at a stakeholders' meeting on April 23, the party has not foreclosed the option of direct primaries. The governor's spokesman, Mamman Mohammed, quoted his principal as saying that consensus remains the party's preferred approach, but democratic principles would prevail if there is no broad agreement among stakeholders and aspirants. Buni stressed that maintaining peace and cohesion within the party remains paramount, describing unity as critical to the APC's chances in the 2027 polls.
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had warned the APC that the credibility of its governorship primaries in Gombe State would determine not only the party's internal strength but also public confidence in democracy.
