Former Zamfara Central senator, Kabiru Marafa, has formally aligned with the African Democratic Congress, deepening his political break from the All Progressives Congress over allegations of internal manipulation.
The defection comes against the backdrop of ongoing leadership disputes within the ADC, recently complicated by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to withdraw recognition from its rival factions following a March 12 appeal court judgment.
Marafa had earlier parted ways with the APC in August 2025, when he accused President Bola Tinubu of sidelining Zamfara State despite its electoral support.
Announcing the latest development in a statement released on Thursday, April 9, Mansur Haruna, director-general of Marafa’s new media team, said the move followed extensive consultations with political associates.
These discussions reportedly took place during a stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna.
“After careful deliberations and consideration of the future direction of the political movement, Senator Marafa formally declared his decision to align with the African Democratic Congress,” the statement reads.
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The former lawmaker described the ADC as a viable alternative, urging residents of Zamfara to register with the party and support its agenda.
He characterised it as “a credible platform for political transformation, accountability, and good governance”.
“The Senator also confirmed his decision to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing growing concerns over what he described as political manipulations, including alleged attempts to exploit the National Identification Number (NIN) database for partisan political registration,” the statement added.
Marafa explained that he would complete the formal process of resigning from the APC in the coming days, after which he would be officially removed from its membership register.
He also indicated plans to visit his hometown to conclude the process and obtain his ADC membership, with arrangements underway for a large political gathering of party members and supporters in Gusau.
In addition, he criticised what he described as efforts by the current administration to create instability within opposition parties, warning that such actions could weaken democratic processes.