Ex-Adamawa APC guber candidate, Aishatu Binani defects to ADC

The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Her media aide, Maulud Usman, confirmed the move on Sunday, revealing that Binani arrived in Yola on Saturday evening and informed close friends and family of her decision in a private gathering.

While social media was abuzz with reports of her defection earlier in the day, official confirmation came later, with Maulud clarifying that the declaration was deliberately kept low-key without media coverage. He added that a formal and more public announcement would follow soon when Binani returns to Yola to officially identify with her new party.

Binani, a former senator who represented Adamawa Central, narrowly lost the 2023 governorship election to incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Her departure from the APC had been anticipated due to reported tensions between her and the party’s leadership in the state, particularly over what many perceived as preferential treatment towards National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who is regarded as the APC’s de facto leader in Adamawa.

Binani’s political rivalry with Ribadu, who lost the APC ticket to her in 2023 and is believed to be eyeing the 2027 race or looking to anoint a preferred candidate, is said to have deepened the rift.