A former top aide to ex-Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking another high-profile shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Almustapha Saulawa, who served as Chief of Staff to Masari during his tenure as governor of Katsina State, publicly announced his defection at the ADC Secretariat in Katsina on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The move drew scores of supporters, particularly youths, who joined Saulawa in formally registering as members of the opposition party.
Saulawa said his decision to leave the APC was driven by principle and a desire to “rescue Katsina State” from what he described as political stagnation under the ruling party.
At the event, he stated, “I’m here to declare myself as a tentative member of ADC, as it is enshrined in the law that I cannot act until I belong. That is why I’m here to become a member of ADC today together with my supporters, which of course are the teeming youth of Katsina.”
A founding figure in the APC at both state and federal levels, Saulawa said he reached a “breaking point” after years of loyalty to the party’s platform.
He asserted that the ADC has grown into a significant political alternative capable of winning in 2027, adding that many in the APC are either “intimidated by empty threats” or remain only because of the incentives tied to government positions.
Saulawa’s defection comes amid wider political realignment in Katsina State, where several prominent leaders have left the APC for the ADC.
These include former Secretary to the State Government Mustapha Inuwa, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, and Senator Babban Kaita, among others, reinforcing perceptions that the opposition is gaining traction in the region.
At the announcement event, Saulawa said he has not yet decided whether he will run for office in 2027, emphasising that his immediate focus is on party building and strengthening the ADC’s grassroots presence in Katsina.
“I’m yet to decide if I will contest come 2027, but my main aim of joining was to establish the party and champion the way forward to rescue Katsina State,” he told supporters.
The move highlights shifting allegiances as Nigeria’s major parties gear up for a highly competitive general election cycle. The ADC has sought to position itself as a strong opposition platform, attracting defectors from both the APC and other major parties. Its appeal to younger voters and disgruntled politicians reflects broader dissatisfaction with the status quo and growing appetite for political alternatives.
Political analysts say defections like Saulawa’s signal possible fractures within the APC’s support base in northern states like Katsina, where the party has traditionally maintained dominance. Increased defections to the ADC could reshape electoral dynamics, particularly if they translate into concrete grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement ahead of 2027.
For urban political observers and stakeholders in Nigeria’s evolving political environment, Saulawa’s defection underlines the strategic importance of coalition-building and opposition unity in challenging the ruling party’s influence.
The extent to which such realignments will impact electoral outcomes remains to be seen, but they illustrate a political momentum that could influence voter choices and party strategies in the lead-up to the 2027 polls.
