2027: PDP, NDC Members Join APC As ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Group Storms Jigawa 

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Jigawa state, have announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) over the weekend.

The defectors, who were received by Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi and the Malam Madori local government APC leadership, attributed their decision to what they described as development interventions and improvements in their communities.

This followed the inauguration of a grassroots campaign office to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election in Garun Gabas Ward of Malam Madori local government area, Jigawa state which attracted huge crowd of supporters who were chanting “Tinubu Must Stay”, a statement by the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS), said.

According to the statement, the event, organised by the TMS, attracted APC chieftains, community leaders, women, youths and other supporters.

Inaugurating the office, the NITDA Boss who also serves as Chairman of the TMS Board of Trustees and National Coordinator, said the movement was expanding its grassroots structures to promote public understanding of the Tinubu administration’s policies, strengthen community engagement and mobilise support for the President’s anticipated re-election bid.

“The essence of creating the TMS Movement is to go down to the grassroots level to enlighten citizens on President Tinubu’s reforms. He made it clear when he assumed office that economic diversification and inclusivity in attaining national prosperity are paramount to his reform agenda,” he said.

The NITDA boss maintained that the administration’s interventions in education, agriculture, food security, national security, digital literacy and healthcare were designed to stimulate economic growth, improve livelihoods and strengthen national development.

He cited South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia as examples of countries whose development experiences demonstrated the importance of sustained economic reforms and policy continuity.

According to him, Nigeria requires consistent implementation of development policies to achieve meaningful economic transformation and compete favourably with emerging economies.

“On this note, I implore the people to come out en masse and ensure a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” Abdullahi told the gathering.

Beyond political mobilisation, the TMS National Coordinator announced plans to empower an additional 200 women in Garun Gabas Ward as part of the movement’s ongoing community intervention programmes.

He explained that the initiative would complement previous empowerment exercises across Jigawa State, including a recent programme in Hadejia, where beneficiaries received financial assistance, sewing machines, bakery equipment, agricultural inputs and other forms of support intended to strengthen small businesses and improve household incomes.

Abdullahi said the movement would continue prioritising vulnerable groups, particularly women, youths, children and persons with disabilities, through economic empowerment, educational assistance and community development initiatives.

“We are here to thank and appreciate you for your continuous support for President Tinubu’s administration. Once the President is re-elected, you will continue to benefit from the many dividends of democracy, just as you are presently enjoying,” he assured the gathering.

The defectors, particularly acknowledged projects facilitated through NITDA, saying the interventions had strengthened their confidence in the administration’s development agenda.

Speaking at the event, the APC Chairman in Malam Madori local government area, Tanko Ahmad, commended Abdullahi for facilitating digital infrastructure projects that have expanded educational opportunities for young people.

He specifically highlighted the establishment of an Information and Communication Technology Development Centre at Government Secondary School, Garun Gabas, describing it as a significant intervention in promoting digital literacy.

“We will not forget NITDA’s intervention through the establishment of the ICT Development Centre in Government Secondary School, Garun Gabas,” Ahmad said.

He noted that the facility had provided students with opportunities to acquire digital skills and improve their readiness for emerging opportunities in the technology-driven economy.

The APC chairman pledged continued support for the TMS initiative, assuring that party structures in the area would intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The TMS Movement has secured a permanent place in Garun Gabas,” he declared.

Also speaking, the Convener of TMS in Garun Gabas, Hashim Suleiman, described the turnout as evidence of growing grassroots acceptance of the movement.

Suleiman explained that the initiative had expanded from its early activities in the United Kingdom to its formal launch in Abuja before extending its mobilisation structures to communities across Nigeria.

“As you know, the movement started some weeks ago. We started from the UK, launched it in Abuja, and now we are here at the community ward level. This is just the beginning, as more grassroots engagements are expected,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the administration’s economic direction, citing developments in the financial and petroleum sectors as indications of improving prospects for investment and economic growth.

Suleiman also urged beneficiaries of the movement’s empowerment programmes to utilise the assistance productively, particularly in establishing sustainable businesses and improving their economic independence.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of an Award of Recognition to Abdullahi by the TMS leadership in Garun Gabas in appreciation of his contributions to digital infrastructure development and grassroots engagement.

The organisers said the recognition reflected his role in facilitating technology-related interventions and supporting the expansion of the movement’s activities across Jigawa State.

The inauguration forms part of the TMS grassroots mobilisation strategy, which is expected to extend to additional wards and local government areas through political sensitisation, community engagement and empowerment programmes