By Mahmood Aliyu
A senior ally of African Democratic Congress (ADC ) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Dr. Aslam Aliyu, has defected from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress (APC ) in Zamfara State, declaring that there is “no vacancy in Aso Rock” ahead of the 2027 elections.
Aliyu announced her decision on Tuesday at a party gathering in Gusau, where she was received into her new party by state officials. She said she had spent two years working with the opposition but was leaving because the ADC lacked direction and a clear plan for Nigeria.
“After spending two years in the camp of the opposition there is no blueprint for 2027,” Aliyu told supporters, adding that “The ADC is only good at criticizing President Tinubu but has no solution or rescue plan for what they criticize.”
The defection is a boost for the APC in Zamfara, a state where the ruling party has been working to consolidate its structures ahead of the next general elections. Party leaders described Aliyu as a mobilizer with strong grassroots connections and said her decision would strengthen the APC’s base in the state.
Aliyu also dismissed the growing opposition coalition being positioned against the APC, calling it a “complete hoax” with no capacity to unseat the ruling party.
She pledged her loyalty to the APC government and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that his administration represents the best option for Nigeria’s future.
“There is no vacancy in the Aso Villa,” she declared, maintaining that: “President Tinubu is the best and only answer come 2027.”
The ADC in Zamfara has not issued an official response to Aliyu’s departure. However, the party has maintained that it remains focused on providing alternative policies to the Tinubu administration, particularly on issues of the economy, security, and governance.
Aliyu’s exit adds to a series of defections that have shaped Nigeria’s political landscape in recent months as parties reposition ahead of 2027. Political observers note that defections from opposition parties to the APC have increased since President Tinubu assumed office, with many citing alignment with the federal government and access to resources as key factors.
For the APC in Zamfara, Aliyu’s move is being framed as validation of the president’s policies and leadership style. State APC officials said they expect more members of the opposition to join the party in the coming months.
Aliyu said she would immediately begin mobilization efforts for the APC across the state, with a focus on women and youth groups.
The ADC was formed as part of a broader opposition effort to present an alternative to the APC. Atiku Abubakar, its 2023 presidential candidate, remains one of the most prominent opposition figures in the country.
With few months to the next presidential election, both the APC and opposition parties are expected to intensify recruitment and coalition-building. Tuesday’s defection suggests that battle for political heavyweights at the state level has already begun.
