Senator disqualified from APC screening defects to ADC

Garba Maidoki, one of the senators barred by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in its senatorial primary election, has resigned his membership of the party and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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Mr Maidoki, who represents Kebbi South Senatorial District, announced his resignation from the APC in a letter read by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, during Tuesday’s plenary.

Mr Maidoki, a first-term senator was initially elected to the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He defected to the APC in May 2025 alongside two other Kebbi senators, Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

However, during the APC primary election held in May, Mr Maidoki was screened out of the process and was unable to contest for the party’s senatorial ticket for a second term.

He was among three serving senators disqualified from participating in the exercise. The others were Benson Agadaga, who represents Bayelsa East Senatorial District, and Banigo Ipalibo, who represents Rivers West Senatorial District.

Reasons for defection

In his resignation letter, Mr Maidoki said the APC failed to accord him justice, prompting his decision to leave the party. He also referenced the party’s internal crisis as a major reason for his defection.

“My decision is based on the lingering internal crisis of the APC that has made my political inspiration a source of concern. I believe that the ideas of the ADC are better for the benefit of my senatorial district and Nigeria at large,” he said.

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The senator accused the APC of failing to uphold its core values, particularly during the recently concluded primary elections in Kebbi State.

“The All Progressives Congress APC has not exhibited its slogan as justice, peace, and unity, especially in Kebbi State during the just concluded primary elections,” he said.

“It is in this regard therefore that I wish to inform you of my defection to the African Democratic Congress which I believe guarantees my political aspiration,” the senator added.

What the law says

The Constitution permits lawmakers to defect under certain conditions.

Section 68(1)(g) provides that a legislator may lose his or her seat if elected on the platform of a political party and later defects to another party before the expiration of the term. The only exceptions are when there is a division in the political party that sponsored the lawmaker or when the party merges with another political party.

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However, the Electoral Act 2022 places additional restrictions on candidates seeking to contest elections on the platform of another political party. Section 77 of the Act requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 30 days before their primary elections.

This effectively means that a politician seeking to contest under a new party is expected to become a registered member of that party before the submission of the membership register and before the conduct of the party’s primary election.

The ADC conducted its senatorial primaries on 21 May. By defecting at this stage, Mr Maidoki may not be recognised as a valid member of the party for the purpose of contesting the 2027 election, let alone securing the party’s senatorial ticket, unless he had quietly completed his defection and fulfilled the party’s membership requirements before the timeframe stipulated by the law.