Former APC governorship candidate in the 2023 Adamawa election, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, has formally joined the National Democratic Congress (NDC). She stated that her defection was driven by her political base rather than personal ambition.
High-Profile Reception in Abuja
At a high-profile reception in Abuja attended by party leaders and stakeholders, Binani, who left the APC about nine months ago, said her supporters played a decisive role in her political realignment. “People are asking why I joined the NDC. The answer is simple—the party stands for structured, policy-driven governance,” she said.
She added that her movement into the party was already underway before her formal entry: “My supporters moved first. Even before I came, they were already here. Adamawa State now has one of the highest numbers of NDC registrations.”
Defending Political Choices
Defending her political choices, she refused to disown her past affiliations: “I will never condemn where I left. But my first and overriding interest is the interest of my supporters.” She stressed that her political journey is rooted in grassroots mobilisation: “No individual can drive politics alone. Your supporters build you, lift you, and sustain you. Everything I am today is because of them.”
Binani pledged commitment to strengthening the party: “We will build this party from Adamawa to the national level. What we demand is equity, justice, transparency, and internal democracy.”
Praise from NDC Leaders
The development drew strong praise from NDC National Leader, Seriaki Dickson, who described her political struggle as symbolic of women’s resilience in Nigerian politics. “You fought like a wounded lioness to break and shatter the glass ceiling for Nigerian women,” Dickson said.
He added that her efforts went beyond personal ambition: “What you did in Adamawa was not for yourself alone, but for all our daughters, mothers, and sisters.” Dickson said Binani’s entry into the NDC represents continuity of her political struggle on a broader platform: “You are now on a platform that believes in women inclusion and empowerment.”
He also urged greater participation of women and youths in politics, describing Binani as proof that barriers can be broken with determination and persistence.
Rare Political Moment
Earlier, NDC National Women Leader Dudu Manuga described her arrival as a rare political moment: “We are receiving a white elephant—rare, powerful, and impossible to ignore.” She added: “This is the season of women rising and breaking ceilings. The NDC is the home for Nigerian women.”
Party leaders say Binani’s defection is expected to significantly boost the NDC’s strength in the North-East, particularly in mobilising women and youth ahead of future political contests.
