Former ADC national woman leader defects to APC

The former National Woman Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Kayauta Yakubu, has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection ceremony took place on Tuesday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, where she was officially received into the ruling party by the APC National Woman Leader, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele, alongside her supporters and political associates. Also present at the event was the APC Chairman for Kuje Area Council, Alhaji Adamu Danladi Ibrahim.

Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Dr. Alile-Idele expressed delight over Yakubu’s decision to join the APC, describing it as a move to “a growing and forward-moving political platform.”

She noted that the APC remains open to Nigerians willing to contribute to national development, stressing that the party’s expanding membership reflects public confidence in its leadership and policies.

Alile-Idele commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for what she described as positive reforms, infrastructural development, empowerment initiatives, and student loan programmes under NELFUND, which she said have improved access to higher education for Nigerian youths.

“On behalf of the National Chairman of our Party, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, I am highly delighted to be here today to receive my sister and friend, the former National Woman Leader of ADC, who has decided to leave a sinking ship and join a moving train, the APC.

I thank you for your commitment. I also commend the APC National Chairman for his strength, dedication, and leadership in moving our great party forward.

The APC is not closing its doors. Anyone is welcome to join. If you look at how our Party is growing, you will know we are doing something right.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced many positive reforms. There has been empowerment, infrastructure development, and initiatives we have not seen before. Through NELFUND, students are now getting loans to go to school, something that did not exist in our time. Today, Nigerian children can access education support, and that is commendable.

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If you see the right road, you follow who knows the road. People should come to APC before the ADC ship goes down. We are throwing lifeboats for people to come aboard.

On behalf of the Party and the Women’s Wing, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the ruling Party, a strategic and inclusive Party that does not discriminate.

She did not come alone. She came with her supporters. As a former National Woman Leader, she commands a large following of women.

I welcome you, Hon. Yakubu. I know you have completed your Party membership registration in the e-registration exercise. We expect you to hit the ground running because elections are won by numbers. One man, one vote. One woman, one vote.”

In her remarks, Hon. Kayauta Yakubu said her decision to leave the ADC was based on her assessment of governance and development under the APC-led administration.

The Kuje-born politician from Rubochi Ward, FCT, said she joined the APC voluntarily to contribute to national growth and grassroots political development.

“I decided to join APC because I have seen the governance and progress of the administration, especially in security and development. I felt I was wasting my time in my former party, so I chose to join this movement and contribute my quota.

Nobody persuaded me to join. I made this decision on my own because of the progress the country is making. I want to serve my people and work for them. I want people to know that FCT has a daughter who can contribute meaningfully in APC.

APC is not new to me. I was part of the Party during the merger but later left. Today, because of the administration’s progress, I have decided to come back home. I was a lost daughter, but now I am found.”

The APC Chairman for Kuje Area Council, Alhaji Adamu Danladi Ibrahim, welcomed Yakubu back to the party, describing her as a founding member with proven mobilisation capacity.

He expressed confidence that her return would boost the party’s strength ahead of the forthcoming Area Council elections.

“We are glad to receive our sister into this great Party. Hon. Kayauta Yakubu is one of the founding members of APC, and today she has returned to where she belongs. We expect significant progress, especially as the Area Council elections draw near. We know her capacity to galvanise support and mobilise voters for the APC. She has done it before, and we believe she will do even more,” Ibrahim said.