Ex-Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal Resigns from PDP, Joins ADC
Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State and current senator representing Sokoto South, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing persistent internal conflicts and ongoing leadership crises within the party.
In a letter dated 11 March and addressed to his ward chairman in Tambuwal/Shinfiri, Tambuwal confirmed that he would be joining the newly registered African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“The leadership disagreements and divisions within the party at various levels have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my active participation and commitment as a member,” he wrote. “The ongoing conflicts have, unfortunately, weakened the unity and direction that once defined the party.”
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives expressed gratitude to the PDP for the opportunities it provided him to serve Nigeria in various capacities. He added that his decision followed “deep reflection” and “extensive consultations” and was guided by a belief that Nigeria requires a “stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, and a clear commitment to national development.”
Tambuwal reaffirmed his commitment to the service of Nigeria and to the ideals of democracy, justice, and national unity.
Governors Departing the PDP
Tambuwal’s defection follows a wider pattern of high‑profile departures from the PDP by serving governors. In recent months, several state executives elected on the PDP platform have resigned, significantly reducing the party’s footprint across the country.
Most recently, Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara State, formally resigned from the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in early March 2026, leaving the PDP with only two remaining governors elected on its platform, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. Makinde, addressing the party’s Board of Trustees in Abuja, acknowledged this unprecedented situation, describing it as a “challenging period” for the party and for Nigerian democracy.
Earlier departures included Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, both of whom defected to the APC in late 2025 as part of a broader realignment towards the governing party.
In December 2025, Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun State, cited an unresolved leadership crisis at the PDP’s national level when he resigned just hours before his party’s governorship primary.
Surge in National Assembly Defections
The defections are not limited to governors. On 11 March 2026, three serving senators Senators Amos Yohanna (Adamawa North), Aminu Iya Abbas (Adamawa Central), and Ikra Bilbis (Zamfara Central) formally defected from the PDP to the APC, citing similar concerns about unresolved internal divisions and a lack of cohesion within their former party. Their decision was announced during a Senate plenary session by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
