The Peoples Democratic Party has received 2,025 new members from the All Progressives Congress, African Democratic Congress and Nigeria Democratic Congress in Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State, in a fresh boost to the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defectors were formally received by the PDP leadership during a political gathering held at Sabon Garin Nangere on Sunday, where party leaders urged the new members to work with existing supporters and strengthen the party’s structures across the local government.
The exercise was led by a member of the PDP Board of Trustees and former senatorial candidate for Yobe South, Halilu Mazagane, who disclosed that the defectors comprised 500 members from the APC, 1,300 from the ADC and 225 from the NDC.
Mazagane said the mass defection demonstrated what he described as growing interest in the PDP as political activities intensify across the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are here to create awareness among you members as well as receive defectors into the Peoples Democratic Party. Today, we have 500 defectors from the All Progressives Congress, 1,300 from the African Democratic Congress and 225 from the Nigeria Democratic Congress,” he said.
The PDP chieftain urged the defectors to integrate themselves into the party and work closely with existing members, stressing that unity would be necessary for the party to translate its growing membership into electoral strength.
He also called on supporters to remain focused and resist intimidation as political activities gather momentum ahead of the elections.
“We call on you, the defectors and the existing members of the party, to stay focused and not to be intimidated. Vote for us at all levels,” Mazagane said.
The development comes as political parties in Yobe State intensify grassroots mobilisation, with the 2027 elections expected to generate increased competition for support across the state’s 17 local government areas.
Mazagane, who is also aspiring to represent the Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, used the gathering to outline what he described as the economic priorities that should guide political leadership in the constituency.
He said job creation and empowerment should remain central to any political programme aimed at improving the living conditions of residents, particularly young people and women.
“If elected, we promise to create jobs for youths and empower women. Our focus must be on candidates who can bring meaningful development to our communities,” he said.
According to him, political leaders should be judged by their ability to provide practical solutions to the challenges confronting their constituents rather than by political rhetoric alone.
He urged the new PDP members to participate actively in the party’s activities and contribute to building a strong grassroots organisation capable of mobilising voters across wards and communities.
The former senatorial candidate further appealed to party members to maintain peace during the political season and avoid actions that could undermine the electoral process.
He stressed that political competition should remain within the provisions of the law, warning supporters against confrontation, intimidation and other actions capable of creating tension within communities.
The PDP leadership also called on the defectors to regard their admission into the party as the beginning of a collective political responsibility rather than an end in itself.
Party leaders said the new members would be expected to work alongside existing supporters in mobilising residents and communicating the party’s programmes and political objectives to voters at the grassroots.
The party also expressed confidence that the influx of new members would strengthen its presence in Nangere and improve its organisational capacity ahead of the 2027 elections.
The 2,025 defectors were drawn from different wards across Nangere Local Government Area, indicating the broad reach of the mobilisation exercise within the local government.
The development is significant because Nangere forms part of the Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency, an area that is expected to witness heightened political activity as aspirants and political parties position themselves ahead of the next general elections.
For the PDP, the reception provides an opportunity to consolidate its grassroots structure and expand its membership at a time when political parties are seeking to strengthen their positions before the formal campaign period.
For the defectors, however, the move also marks a shift in political allegiance as they join a party that is seeking to rebuild its support base and challenge rival parties in the state.
Mazagane told the gathering that the party remained committed to working with its members and supporters to achieve its political objectives while encouraging them to remain united.
He said the success of the party would depend not only on the number of people joining its ranks but also on the ability of members to work together and maintain discipline.
The PDP leadership also urged the new members to participate fully in party activities and contribute to its mobilisation efforts in their respective wards.
West Trybe reports that the defection of 2,025 members from the APC, ADC and NDC adds to the growing political realignment in Yobe State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties increasingly turning their attention to grassroots mobilisation, membership expansion and the consolidation of ward-level structures.
The latest development also signals the intensifying contest for political influence in Nangere and the wider Potiskum/Nangere axis, where parties are expected to step up mobilisation efforts as the 2027 elections draw closer.
