Kano lawmaker defects to NDC after losing APC return ticket

A member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Gwale Constituency, Abdulmajid Mai Rigar Fata, has defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The lawmaker, who represents Gwale Local Government Area, home to Governor Abba Yusuf, was formally received on Thursday by former Kano State governor and NDC leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his Maitama residence in Abuja.

The development was disclosed by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Hassan wrote, “Today, (Thursday, 21st May 2026), His Excellency, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, welcomed Hon. Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mai Rigar Fata, member representing Gwale Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, following his defection from the APC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

“Also received were Hon. Kabiru Sani Auwal Obi, former Vice Chairman of Gwale Local Government, and Mal. Mahadi Isa Umar, who joined the party alongside him.”

Mai Rigar Fata was first elected into the Assembly in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party before later joining the APC alongside Governor Yusuf.

According to Daily Trust, his latest defection followed his inability to secure the APC ticket to return to the Assembly.

The development came hours after a Federal High Court ruling on Thursday opened the door for politicians seeking to defect to alternative political platforms ahead of the elections.

Reacting to the ruling, the spokesman for the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the judgment could trigger mass defections from the APC.

“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the Constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” the party said.

The ADC added that the ruling, which it said removed restrictions affecting politicians seeking alternative platforms to contest elections, would promote freedom of association.

“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC. Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party,” the statement added.