ABUJA, Nigeria — Three senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, May 9, 2025, intensifying speculation about a fresh wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The senators — Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) — were accompanied to the meeting by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje.
Also in attendance were Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, all senior APC figures.
While the meeting’s official agenda was not disclosed, the gathering has sparked strong speculation that the senators are set to cross over to the APC.
All three legislators have been prominent voices within the PDP and have, at various times, criticised President Tinubu’s policies, particularly on insecurity and federal appointments.
The possible defection of the Kebbi senators would add to a growing trend of opposition lawmakers joining the APC in recent weeks.
On Wednesday, Senator Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Earlier in the week, six PDP members of the House of Representatives from Delta State, and another from Osun State, Oluwole Oke, announced their defection.
At the state level, the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, and all members of the Delta State House of Assembly have also moved to the APC.
Several defectors have cited internal party disagreements and the desire to align with the federal government as reasons for their decisions.
Mr Aliero, a former governor of Kebbi State (1999–2007) and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (2008–2010), has been a senator since 2015.
Mr Abdullahi, who previously served as Senate Minority Leader, has been in the National Assembly since 2015.
Mr Maidoki, elected in 2023, is serving his first term and has made headlines for vocal advocacy on northern development and public criticism of federal policies.
The presidency has yet to issue a statement on the outcome of the meeting.
