Adamawa 2023 APC Governorship Candidate, Binani Dumps Party, Joins ADC

Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, popularly known as Binani, has officially defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in what is seen as a major political realignment in Adamawa State. Binani, who was the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election, confirmed her defection on Saturday in Yola. Her media aide, Maulud Usman, said the decision followed months of unresolved internal conflicts and alleged exclusion by the APC’s state leadership. A former senator who represented Adamawa Central between 2019 and 2023, Binani rose to national prominence when she became the first woman to clinch a major party’s governorship ticket in the state. Her candidacy was historic and drew widespread attention, especially from women and youth across the country. During the 2023 governorship election, Binani was controversially declared winner by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, a decision later overruled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which reaffirmed Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected governor. The episode sparked a national outcry and raised questions about electoral transparency in the state. In a video statement released after her defection, Binani accused the APC of losing its moral compass and described the party’s structure in Adamawa as compromised by corrupt influences. She said her move to the ADC was to align with a platform that prioritises justice, fairness, and internal democracy. Her defection is coming amid reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may also be preparing to join the ADC, in what sources describe as an emerging coalition to reshape Adamawa’s political dynamics ahead of 2027. Both leaders are expected to play leading roles in what could become a significant third-force movement in the state. The ADC has welcomed Binani into its fold and announced plans for a major political rally in Yola next month to formally receive her and other defectors. Party officials described her entry as a major boost to the ADC’s grassroots appeal and credibility. Reactions from the APC in Adamawa are still being awaited, but political observers believe Binani’s departure will have far-reaching implications for the party’s influence and strategy in the state going forward.