A fresh political setback has hit Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as one of his longtime allies in Zamfara State, Dr. Aslam Aliyu, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the opposition party lacks a concrete blueprint to rescue Nigeria.
Aliyu announced her resignation in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, saying the decision followed deep reflection on the country’s political direction and the need to align with what she described as a platform committed to national development.
The former Atiku loyalist, who spent nearly two decades in his political camp and served as leader of the Project Atiku Abubakar (PAA) 2027, said she could no longer remain in a political movement that, in her view, had failed to provide practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
According to her, the ADC has no meaningful development agenda capable of addressing the country’s economic and governance problems.
“For almost two decades, I worked tirelessly within the political camp of H.E. Atiku Abubakar, ADC Presidential Candidate 2027. Throughout that entire period, my loyalty never wavered.
“However, after almost two decades of dedicated engagement, it has become undeniably clear that the opposition lacks a meaningful development blueprint or a viable and sustainable national rescue plan,” she said.
Aliyu further accused the opposition of concentrating on criticising the administration of President Bola Tinubu without offering Nigerians realistic alternatives.
She maintained that the ADC had no concrete rescue plan for the country beyond attacking the government, stressing that Nigeria deserved issue-based politics focused on development rather than persistent criticism.
Throwing her weight behind President Tinubu’s administration, Aliyu called on Nigerian youths, women and other opposition members to join the APC and support the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I am a mother, calling on patriotic Nigerian youths, women, and forward-thinking opposition members to abandon counterproductive politics and join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa, as Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge as the winner of the presidential election come 2027, by the grace of Almighty Allah,” she stated.
She explained that joining the APC would enable her to contribute more effectively to governance and national development through what she described as a more structured political platform.
Reacting to the defection, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, welcomed Aliyu into the ruling party.
In a post on his X handle on Monday, Yilwatda described her defection as a significant addition to the APC.
“Welcome to the All Progressives Congress, Gimbiya Dr Aslam Aliyu. You have made the right switch to join millions of other Progressives across Nigeria in furthering the ideals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are proud to have you in our folds,” he wrote.
Before her defection, Aliyu coordinated the Project Atiku Abubakar (PAA) 2027 and also led Zamfara Top 10, a forum of digital media stakeholders and online mobilisers that promoted Atiku’s presidential ambition.