Kano lawmaker defects to NDC after losing APC return ticket

A member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Gwale Constituency, Abdulmajid Mai Rigar Fata, has defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The lawmaker, who represents Gwale Local Government Area, was formally received on Thursday in Abuja by former Kano State governor and NDC leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The development was disclosed by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, who said the lawmaker joined the party alongside former Gwale Vice Chairman, Kabiru Sani Auwal Obi, and Mahadi Isa Umar.

Mai Rigar Fata was first elected into the Assembly in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party before later moving to the APC.

Reports indicate his latest defection followed his failure to secure the APC ticket to seek re-election.

The move comes shortly after a Federal High Court ruling that political parties say could encourage more defections ahead of the 2027 elections.

Reacting to the judgment, spokesman for the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ruling could trigger a wave of exits from the ruling APC.