By Jane Salihu
With political realignments already gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Zamfara Central senator, Kabiru Garba Marafa, has formally dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), warning that the legal battles surrounding his former party could threaten its survival.
Marafa spoke with journalists at the NDC national office in Abuja shortly after completing his defection, saying the move followed extensive consultations with political allies and legal experts who studied the unfolding crisis within ADC.
The Zamfara politician said the lingering court cases and internal disputes within the party created serious uncertainty about its ability to remain a viable platform for political aspirants preparing for the next electoral cycle.
“Anybody desirous of contesting election in Nigeria must belong to a healthy political party. When you look at the array of litigations in ADC and the limited time left, we had to take a decision,” Marafa said.
According to him, the decision to leave the party was not taken lightly, revealing that he and his political team sought the opinion of senior lawyers who evaluated the risks facing ADC.
He noted that their findings showed that while there was a possibility the party could overcome its legal challenges, there was also a real risk that the crisis could escalate and derail its political prospects.
“We assembled high-quality lawyers to study the whole scenario. Their advice showed there is a probability of survival and also a probability of sinking. Under such circumstances, we had to act,” he explained.
Marafa insisted that his exit from ADC was not driven by personal ambition or dissatisfaction over political rewards, stressing that the party had not yet reached the stage of allocating positions.
“In ADC today, there is no food on the table. Nobody can say I am leaving because I was denied anything,” he said.
Reflecting on his political history, the former senator rejected claims that he frequently moves from one party to another for convenience.
He explained that he began his political career in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before moving to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which later merged with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I don’t think I qualify as somebody that moves from one party to another. Many of these movements were because of political mergers or circumstances beyond my control,” he said.
Marafa also pointed to growing dissatisfaction in northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-West, saying many citizens are eager for political change but must carefully assess the political platforms they align with.
“People are yearning for change, especially in the North-West. But you must check the vehicle that will take you to that destination — check the tyres, the brakes, the steering — before you embark on the journey,” he added.
He assured supporters that his new party would continue to work within broader opposition coalitions ahead of 2027, adding that political alliances may still evolve as the election cycle approaches.
While acknowledging that no politician can predict the future, Marafa said his decision to join NDC was guided by the need to secure a stable and credible platform to pursue his political aspirations and represent the interests of his supporters.
