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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Former Zamfara West Senator Kabir Marafa has defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a move he said was driven by “political survival” and strategic necessity rather than personal gain.
Speaking at a formal reception by the NDC, Marafa dismissed accusations of habitual party-switching, insisting his political decisions have always been shaped by prevailing circumstances and guided by principle.
“I don’t think I am qualified as somebody who moves from one party to another,” he said.
Justifying his latest decision, he pointed to uncertainty within the ADC, warning that ongoing litigation and internal disputes had cast doubt on the party’s stability.
“The essence of joining a political party is to give you the opportunity to contest and serve your people,” he said. “How many court cases are we waiting for to determine the health of ADC? Let us be honest and fair to ourselves.”
According to him, the situation within the party presented a gamble with no clear outcome. “There is probability of it scaling through, and there is also probability of it sinking. What do you do under that circumstance?” he asked.
Marafa revealed that his exit followed wide-ranging consultations with legal and political advisers, noting that the overwhelming counsel was to leave the party. “Out of ten people I consulted, at least seven told me: leave ADC now,” he said.
He stressed that the decision was preemptive, aimed at avoiding being trapped in a politically unstable platform ahead of the next election cycle.
“We are not leaving because we were denied anything. We have not even reached the table where food is served,” he said.
Responding to criticism of political inconsistency, Marafa drew a distinction between opportunistic defections and those compelled by circumstances.
“Some people jump ship for personal benefits, but others are forced by circumstances,” he said. Reinforcing his position, he added that his move to the NDC was part of a broader strategy to remain within a “healthy and unencumbered platform” capable of delivering electoral viability.
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Reflecting on his Senate experience since 2011, he said his time in the National Assembly exposed both his leadership capacity and the complexities of political negotiation in Nigeria.
He also hinted at dissatisfaction with reward systems within previous political arrangements, suggesting that contributions to the victory of President Bola Tinubu in Zamfara were not adequately recognised. “We are not afraid of anybody. We can fight, but we choose strategy,” he added.
National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, described Marafa’s entry into the party as a major political gain, characterising it as both a “return home” and a reinforcement of the party’s growing national profile.
“Distinguished Senator Kabiru Marafa, Commander of the Order of the Niger… a diligent officer of the Federal Republic… today you are reporting for national duty,” Dickson said. In a moment laced with humour, he added: “I wanted to call him a big fish… but politically speaking, he is more than a big elephant.”
Dickson emphasised that Marafa’s defection was not merely symbolic but aligned with the party’s core values. “This is not the campaign. This is a man coming to a house that is properly suited to him, his principles, his values, and what he has stood for,” he said.
Highlighting the NDC’s ideological stance, he added: “Power must be for service, otherwise it becomes a burden.” The former Bayelsa governor expressed confidence that Marafa’s grassroots influence would strengthen the party’s foothold in Zamfara.
“With Kabiru Marafa leading the NDC in Zamfara, the story of Zamfara will change for good, by the grace of God,” he said. Dickson also used the occasion to project the NDC as a rapidly rising force in Nigeria’s political space.
“This party, only a few months old, is already the second or third most accepted political party in Nigeria,” he claimed. He further distinguished the party from its rivals, saying: “We are the only political party in Nigeria with no crisis, no court case, no faction, no dispute.”
In his remarks, NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, framed Marafa’s defection within a larger political movement, using biblical imagery to describe the party as a vehicle of rescue amid looming political uncertainty.
“This rescue mission, as we see it, was initiated by God through His political servant… Just like Noah, he foresaw what was coming,” Cleopas said. “The ark is open… but the ark will not wait forever.” He described Marafa as a widely recognised political figure whose entry signals a shift in momentum.
“Today, there is hardly anyone conversant with Nigerian politics who does not know Distinguished Senator Marafa. If you do not know him, then you are not part of the political landscape,” he said.
Cleopas added that Marafa’s arrival would strengthen leadership capacity within the party and potentially trigger further defections. “His arrival also signals that others may follow,” he said.
