Yola, Adamawa State, NIGERIA — Senator Aisha Binani has formally defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The announcement, made on Friday, confirms that the former APC gubernatorial candidate will pursue her 2027 ambition on a new platform after a protracted internal crisis within the ADC.
The defection stems from a bitter factional battle between Binani’s supporters and a group led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal. Lawal is reportedly backing former Governor Jibrilla Bindow for the ADC ticket, a move that Binani claims sidelined her interests despite her significant grassroots following.
Okay News reports that the NDC is now expected to hand Binani its governorship ticket, setting up a three-way “battle of titans” in Adamawa State.
The exit of Senator Binani follows the collapse of high-level reconciliation efforts led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Despite hosting multiple meetings in Abuja to harmonize the warring factions, Binani alleged that the resolutions—which were intended to create a fair playing field—were ignored by the Babachir Lawal camp. The failure of these talks highlights the deep-seated rivalries currently testing the stability of opposition coalitions in the North.
Binani, who made history in 2023 as the first female governorship candidate of a major party in Nigeria, remains a formidable force in Adamawa politics. Her move to the NDC is viewed by analysts as a strategic attempt to bypass internal party sabotage and present a direct challenge to both the APC and the now-divided ADC. As the May 30 primary deadline approaches, the NDC is expected to mobilize heavily to capitalize on Binani’s widespread popularity among women and the youth across the state’s 21 local government areas.
