Former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring his intention to contest the Jigawa South-West Senatorial seat in the 2027 general election.
Abba announced his defection on Saturday at a political rally in Bamaina, the hometown of former Jigawa State Governor and PDP stalwart, Alhaji Sule Lamido. He was received by party leaders, supporters, and a large crowd of loyalists.
Addressing the gathering, the former police chief said he joined the PDP because he believes the party provides the best platform to deliver effective representation for the people of Jigawa South-West.
“I have left the APC for the PDP because I believe this is the platform to deliver real representation for Jigawa South-West,” Abba said.
He pledged to prioritise security, agriculture, youth empowerment, and economic development if elected to the National Assembly, adding that he would ensure the voices of farmers, women, and young people in the district are represented in the Senate.
Welcoming Abba into the PDP, former Governor Sule Lamido described the defection as a significant political gain for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“This is a big catch for the PDP.
A man of Abba’s record brings credibility and reach to our party,” Lamido said, expressing confidence that the former IGP’s entry would strengthen the PDP’s position in Jigawa State and attract more members to the party.
The Jigawa State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Babandi Gumel, said party structures at the ward, local government, and zonal levels had been mobilised to integrate Abba and his supporters.
“Our ward, LGA and zonal executives are on the ground to integrate everyone into the PDP family,” Gumel said.
Also speaking, the PDP governorship candidate in Jigawa State, Mustapha Lamido, said Abba’s defection had further boosted the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 polls.
Party leaders at the rally said the presence of PDP leaders and governorship candidates from Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Jigawa states reflected growing unity within the opposition and its determination to mount a stronger challenge in the next general election.
