The Peoples Democratic Party in Kebbi State, once a dominant political force in the state’s power structure, is grappling with a prolonged period of political quietness as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
From losing key federal seats to witnessing a string of high profile defections to the All Progressives Congress, the party’s structure has come under significant strain.
The PDP’s declining influence became more pronounced following the defection of its three serving senators, Adamu Aliero representing Kebbi Central, Yahaya Abdullahi representing Kebbi North, and Garba Maidoki representing Kebbi South, to the APC in 2025.
Their exit reshaped the political landscape in Kebbi, leaving the PDP without representation in the Senate and raising concerns about its ability to mount a formidable opposition.
For years, Aliero, Abdullahi and Maidoki were regarded as pillars of the PDP in the state. Political observers described their defection as a structural earthquake for the opposition.
At the federal level, the PDP’s presence has been reduced largely to Ibrahim Bello Mohammed, who represents Birnin Kebbi Kalgo Bunza Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, making him one of the few remaining PDP lawmakers from Kebbi in the National Assembly.
In September 2025, the PDP conducted ward congresses across the 21 local government areas of the state, electing new executives and delegates. However, since then, there have been no widely reported large scale political engagements, strategic town hall meetings or mass mobilisation initiatives led by the re elected state chairman, Alhaji Usman Bello.
Although the Kebbi PDP publicly boycotted the party’s national convention in November 2025 over disagreements concerning the choice of a national chairman, analysts argue that beyond that stance, the party has remained largely muted in the state’s political arena.
Wave of defections
The PDP’s difficulties intensified in December 2025 when more than 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.
The defectors attributed their decision to what they described as the performance of the APC led administration in infrastructure, security and development projects across the state.
Similarly, hundreds of PDP members from Yauri, Shanga and Ngaski local government areas defected to the APC and were formally received by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, in September 2025.
The trend extended to the women wing of the party. Former National Women Leader of the PDP, Mariya Waziri, defected to the APC in February 2026 alongside other executives, citing confidence in the developmental strides of the current administration. Her exit was widely viewed as symbolic, given her longstanding influence within the PDP structure.
Despite the defections, the Kebbi PDP leadership has continued to reassure members of its unity.
When contacted, the re elected chairman, Alhaji Usman Bello, described the party as “one indivisible entity” across the 21 local government areas and urged members to remain calm and focused. He maintained that defections are part of democratic politics and insisted the PDP would reorganise and emerge stronger before 2027.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Sani Dododo, acknowledged the challenges but said rebuilding efforts are 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,” Dododo said.
On the other hand, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Kebbi State Governor, Yahaya Sarki, described the PDP as increasingly irrelevant, attributing the steady defections to what he termed the visible performance of the Idris administration.
According to him, the APC’s growing acceptance across Kebbi reflects public satisfaction with governance and inclusive leadership.
Political analysts offer mixed views
A political science lecturer at the Federal University Birnin Kebbi observed that although the PDP’s current silence appears significant, 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.
At present, no widely visible opposition figure within the Kebbi PDP commands statewide influence comparable to the party’s former senatorial heavyweights.
Meanwhile, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, now a gubernatorial aspirant of the African Democratic Congress in Kebbi, is viewed by some observers as a strong opposition figure in the state.
However, his campaign has reportedly been constrained by ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which have temporarily stalled his gubernatorial bid.
Malami also serves as the ADC state party leader, providing him with a structural base. In contrast, the PDP currently appears to lack comparable leadership momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
For a party that once commanded significant political capital in Kebbi State, the coming months may prove critical in determining whether its present quietness represents a strategic recalibration or signals a longer term decline.
