The All Progressives Congress (APC) suffered a setback in the Senate on Tuesday as the lawmaker representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing lingering internal disputes within the ruling party.

Maidoki announced his defection in a letter read during plenary, a move that reshapes the political landscape in the upper chamber and signals growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the letter addressed to the Senate President and fellow lawmakers, the senator said unresolved conflicts within the APC, particularly in Kebbi State, had forced him to reconsider his political future.

“I am writing to inform the President of the Senate and my distinguished colleagues of my defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” he stated.

Explaining his decision, Maidoki accused the APC of failing to uphold its core values of justice, peace and unity, especially during the recently concluded party primary elections in Kebbi State.

According to him, the party’s handling of the primaries exposed deep-rooted issues that weakened confidence in its leadership and internal processes.

The senator said he was convinced that the ADC would provide a more suitable platform to pursue his political aspirations and better represent the interests of his constituents in Kebbi South.

He maintained that the move was guided by his commitment to aligning with a political platform whose principles and leadership would more effectively serve both his constituents and the wider Nigerian public.

Reacting to the development, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, appealed to Maidoki to reconsider his decision, insisting that there was no crisis within the APC in Kebbi State.

Before concluding the announcement, Barau offered to mediate, saying, “Allow me to intervene and reconcile you. I know there is no internal problem in the APC in Kebbi State. It might be because of a family dispute. If you allow me, I can come in to reconcile you.”

However, his remarks drew procedural objections from some lawmakers, who argued that he should not comment on the matter while presiding over the session.

Acknowledging the concerns, Barau withdrew from further discussion, saying, “He has drawn my attention to the fact that I should not descend into the arena. So, your suggestion is upheld.”

The announcement was thereafter formally concluded, marking another notable defection in the build-up to the 2027 elections.