2023 Adamawa APC Guber Candidate, Senator Binani, Defects to ADC

The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The development was confirmed on Sunday afternoon by her media aide, Maulud Usman, who disclosed that the senator quietly made the declaration upon her return to Yola on Saturday evening, in the presence of close family members and associates.

Speculation about Binani’s defection had flooded social media earlier on Sunday, but official confirmation only came later in the day.

Speaking with Newsmen, Maulud clarified that the decision was made in a low-key manner without media involvement.

He added that Senator Binani, who represented Adamawa Central Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly, would soon hold a more formal public engagement with her new political party.

“Senator Binani arrived Yola quietly on Saturday and informed her close political allies and family members about her move to the ADC.

There was no formal press event, but she will return soon for a broader interaction with the public under the banner of her new party,” Maulud stated.

Binani, who narrowly lost the 2023 governorship election to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had been rumoured for months to be at loggerheads with the APC leadership in the state.

Her defection does not come as a surprise to many political observers, as she has reportedly had a strained relationship with the party hierarchy since the end of the election cycle.

Party insiders have long noted the perceived preference of the APC state leadership for National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who is seen as the de facto leader of the party in Adamawa due to his federal role.

Political analysts believe Binani’s discomfort with this power dynamic—especially given Ribadu’s past rivalry with her for the party’s governorship ticket in 2023—contributed significantly to her decision to exit the APC.

Ribadu was among the five aspirants who lost the APC ticket to Binani ahead of the last general election. It is widely speculated that he may be positioning himself or a loyal candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial race.

Binani’s move to the ADC further bolsters the ranks of the opposition coalition, which has seen several high-profile defections from the PDP and APC in recent weeks, as political realignments continue ahead of the 2027 general elections.