PDP BoT Stalwart, Adamu Maina Waziri, Joins ADC Citing Party’s Loss of Credibility

In a significant political blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, a prominent member of its Board of Trustees (BoT) and a founding figure, officially announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday, July 7, 2025. Waziri, a former Minister of Police Affairs, cited the PDP’s profound loss of credibility and its inability to serve as a formidable opposition as key drivers for his move.

The seasoned politician, who was also the PDP’s governorship candidate in Yobe State in 2003 and 2007, formalized his exit at the Dogo Tebo Ward Centre in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe. His ward chairman, Malam Muhammad Bomai, also tendered his resignation from the PDP and immediately joined Waziri in the ADC.

Addressing party loyalists and supporters, Waziri described his decision as “difficult but necessary,” driven by “exigencies of the moment” and a compelling “national interest” to restore democratic values. He asserted that the PDP’s “current leadership and the party’s tone no longer aligned with the vision of a credible opposition party,” further stating that the party “has lost its moral standing as the primary opposition bastion.”

Waziri lamented the ironic turn of events for the PDP, a party founded in 1998 with the mission to combat non-democratic rule, now grappling with internal disarray and a perceived inability to fulfill its democratic mandate. He suggested that the party had “fallen into the hands of a leadership that, for all practical purposes, is ill-suited to position the party as a strong contender for 2027.”

The former minister underscored his move as a commitment to “recreate democracy, restore good governance, and enable Nigerians to live in peace and prosperity.” He pledged to mobilize his extensive network of political associates to join the ADC, rallying others to be part of a new movement aimed at “restoring democratic hope in the country.”

Waziri’s defection coincides with the ADC’s aggressive drive to consolidate a new opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. His public declaration in Potiskum took place during an ADC zonal meeting, highlighting the strategic significance of his move to the burgeoning party. The defection of a BoT member, particularly one with Waziri’s historical ties and influence within the PDP, is seen as a significant setback for the party as it grapples with ongoing internal crises and widespread defections across the country.