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Kebbi APC’s Claimed “10,000 Defections” Raises More Questions Than Answers
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline
Northern Bureau Chief
July 15th, 2026
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kebbi State Chapter, has noted with concern the press release issued by the Kebbi State Government claiming that over 10,000 supporters of the ADC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Ordinarily, political defections are part of every democratic process, and every Nigerian has the constitutional right to freely associate with any political party of their choice. However, what is unacceptable is the deliberate exaggeration of facts and the attempt to mislead the public through sensational figures that are unsupported by verifiable evidence.
The ADC considers the publication a calculated attempt to create an impression of overwhelming political acceptance for the APC through media propaganda rather than through demonstrable facts.
Our position is clear: the gathering publicized by the Kebbi State Government does not reflect the reality on the ground. From our observation, the event was largely attended by individuals mobilized for the occasion and cannot reasonably be described as evidence of a genuine mass defection involving over 10,000 members of the ADC and the PDP.
If indeed more than 10,000 supporters genuinely defected, a simple question deserves an honest answer: Who are these defectors?
Curiously, the government’s statement failed to publish the names of the alleged defectors, their wards, polling units, registration details, or the party structures they supposedly abandoned.
Such information is standard in political announcements of this magnitude and provides the transparency necessary for the public to verify such extraordinary claims.
Instead, the statement mentioned only a limited number of local government party officials and a few political figures. While those individuals are entitled to make their personal political decisions, their individual actions cannot honestly be stretched into a claim that thousands of party members have abandoned the ADC or PDP.
The people of Kebbi State deserve truth, not inflated statistics designed for newspaper headlines.
If the APC is genuinely enjoying unprecedented popularity in Kebbi State, it should have no difficulty presenting credible evidence instead of relying on unverifiable figures and broad political declarations.
It is equally disappointing that public communication from government continues to focus on political image-making while many pressing challenges affecting ordinary citizens remain unresolved. Across Kebbi State, people continue to express concern over unemployment, the rising cost of living, insecurity in some communities, inadequate infrastructure, and the need for improved healthcare and educational services. These are the issues that deserve the government’s utmost attention.
The ADC remains confident in the strength of its grassroots structures across the twenty-one Local Government Areas of Kebbi State. Our members remain united, committed, and fully focused on building a credible political alternative based on accountability, transparency, justice, and responsible governance.
No amount of media embellishment or political spectacle can erase the growing desire among the people of Kebbi State for leadership that prioritizes their welfare over propaganda.
We therefore urge media organisations, civil society groups, and members of the public to subject political claims to proper scrutiny. Democracy is strengthened when facts prevail over political exaggeration, and when public institutions communicate with honesty and accountability.
The ADC also calls on the APC-led administration to allow its developmental record, rather than unverifiable claims of mass defections, to speak for itself.
History has shown that genuine political strength is measured not by the size of crowds assembled for official events or the figures contained in press statements, but by the confidence freely reposed in a party by the electorate during credible elections.
The African Democratic Congress remains steadfast in its commitment to serving the people of Kebbi State with integrity, sincerity, and people-oriented leadership. We assure our members and supporters that our party remains united, stronger than ever, and fully prepared to continue offering Kebbi citizens a credible democratic alternative.
Signed:-
Alh. Ibrahim Musa
State chairman of
Concern citizens of Kebbi State
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 15TH 2026)
