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From John Adams, Minna
Thousands of youths reportedly gathered in Gabas/Kudu Ward, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, to burn brooms, the symbol of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and declare support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mohammed Nami.
An APC chieftain, Mohammed Bello, who disclosed the development to our correspondent in Minna yesterday, described it as a setback for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The youths, who identified themselves as the Kananan Kwari Support Group for Nami, reportedly gathered hundreds of brooms and set them ablaze while singing, dancing and chanting solidarity songs in support of the PDP candidate.
The ward is home to an APC stalwart, Muazu Jantabo, Niger State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Bello said the development surprised party members because Gabas/Kudu had remained an APC stronghold for years.
“This is a setback for the APC because the party has remained in control of the ward since 2015. It is a pointer to the danger ahead of 2027 elections in the area,” he said.
He described the development as a mass defection, while opposition supporters viewed it as a gain for the PDP and a sign of changing political loyalties in the ward.
The development came amid internal disputes in the Niger APC following the primaries and consensus arrangements used to select candidates for the 2027 elections.
The party set up a reconciliation committee to resolve grievances, but some aggrieved members have since moved to the opposition parties.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also attracted disaffected APC members in the state.
