The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State, once a dominant political force, is grappling with an extended period of silence and structural setbacks following a wave of high-profile defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, the opposition party’s dwindling influence has sparked debate about its capacity to reassert itself in a state it once commanded.
The PDP’s political decline became more pronounced in 2025 when its three serving senators — Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) — defected to the APC.
Their exit left the PDP without Senate representation from Kebbi, an outcome analysts described as a “structural earthquake” that reshaped the state’s political landscape.
At the federal level, the party’s presence has since narrowed to a handful of figures, including Ibrahim Bello Mohammed, who represents Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Although the PDP conducted ward congresses across Kebbi’s 21 local government areas in September 2025 and re-elected Alhaji Usman Bello as state chairman, observers say the party has struggled to regain visibility.
Apart from boycotting the party’s national convention in November 2025 over disagreements on the choice of national chairman, the Kebbi PDP has recorded few large-scale political engagements or mobilisation drives.
The party’s troubles deepened in December 2025 when over 1,500 members from the Zuru Emirate defected to the APC. They were received in Birnin Kebbi by the APC state chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru.
In September 2025, hundreds more members from Yauri, Shanga and Ngaski local government areas also joined the APC and were officially welcomed by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris.
The defection wave extended to the PDP’s women wing. In February 2026, former National Women Leader, Mariya Waziri, defected to the APC alongside other executives, citing confidence in the administration’s developmental efforts.
Despite the setbacks, state chairman Usman Bello has maintained that the PDP remains united across Kebbi’s 21 LGAs, describing defections as part of democratic politics.
State Publicity Secretary Sani Dododo admitted the party was navigating a difficult phase but insisted rebuilding efforts were underway.
“We have lost key members, no doubt. But political history shows that parties can rebuild. What we need now is aggressive grassroots engagement, reconciliation and clarity of vision,” he said.
Reacting, Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, argued that the PDP’s shrinking ranks reflect public satisfaction with the APC-led administration.
According to him, the steady stream of defections signals growing acceptance of the government’s performance across infrastructure, security and development.
A political science lecturer at the Federal University Birnin Kebbi observed that while the PDP’s current silence appears glaring, the political terrain could still shift before 2027.
“Politics is dynamic. Today’s dominance does not automatically translate into tomorrow’s victory. The PDP still has structures, but it must act fast to regain visibility and credibility,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, now gubernatorial aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi, is widely viewed as a notable opposition figure.
However, his ambition has reportedly been slowed by ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
For a party that once wielded significant political capital in Kebbi, the coming months may prove decisive. Whether the PDP’s current quiet signals strategic recalibration or long-term decline remains an open question as 2027 approaches.