Three PDP Kaduna lawmakers join APC, cite Uba Sani’s ‘impressive performance’

Three members of the Kaduna house of assembly elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers cited the “impressive performance” of Uba Sani, Kaduna governor, as their reason for abandoning the PDP to join the APC.

The three lawmakers—Henry Mara (Jaba constituency), Emmanuel Kantiok (Zonkwa constituency), and Samuel Kambai (Zango constituency)—announced their defection on Thursday in a letter addressed to their various wards.

The lawmakers said they decided to align with the ruling party in the state while noting that their constituents’ political future is “sacrosanct and that they could better represent them within the APC.”

Mara, chairman of the house committee on information, said “PDP’s popularity and dominance in southern Kaduna has crumbled” due to the governor’s achievements bringing peace and unity.

“A major realignment in the power structure of the house of assembly is looming as we’re expecting more opposition members to dump the PDP for APC, Mara added.”

Meanwhile, Danjuma La’ah, a two-term former senator who represented Kaduna south senatorial zone, also resigned his membership in the PDP.

La’ah said his decision to leave the opposition party is “personal,” after submitting his resignation letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Kaura LGA.

The defection comes few days after Amos Magaji, a member of the house of representatives represents Zangon Kataf/Jaba federal constituency of Kaduna announced his defection from the PDP to the APC.

In recent weeks, a number of lawmakers have defected from the PDP and Labour Party (LP) to the APC.

On October 2, Chris Nkwonta, who represents Ukwa east/Ukwa west federal constituency of Abia state, left the PDP for APC.

On October 30, Sulaiman Abubakar, who represents Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency of Zamfara, ditched the PDP for the APC.

On December 5, four LP members and one PDP lawmaker in the green chamber defected to the APC.

On February 12, Garba Koko, who represents Besse/Maiyama Yema federal constituency of Kebbi state, left the PDP for the APC.

The legislator said he resolved to dump the PDP over the “prolonged and protracted” crisis in the party.

‘APC TAKING OVER SOUTHERN KADUNA’

While receiving the decampees on Friday in Kafanchan, Sani said the APC is making inroads into southern Kaduna—once a stronghold of the PDP—because his administration is built on justice.

He noted his commitment to upholding the oath of office by ensuring fairness to all segments of Kaduna, regardless of political affiliation or ethno-religious background.

According to Sani, once elections are over, politics should take a backseat while governance takes center stage—an approach he described as the hallmark of true leadership.

He reiterated that his administration’s priority is fostering peaceful coexistence to drive even development, noting that development cannot be achieved without peace.

The governor also said President Bola Tinubu is pleased with developments in Kaduna and wants the state to serve as a model for unity.

Sani added that Tinubu recently informed him that the Kaduna light rail project and the Kwoi-Kafanchan road have been included in the 2025 budget.