Kaduna: PDP governorship candidate loses  key allies to APC

The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2023 elections, Alhaji Isa Ashiru, has allegedly failed to woo back his Kudan Ward Chairman, Hon Sanusi Magaji, who defected to APC recently.

A statement by the Special Adviser of the Kudan Local Government Chairman on Political Matters and Stakeholders’ Engagement, Alhaji Yunusa Chiroma,   disclosed that the Council Chairman, Hon Dauda Iliya Abba has ‘’now consolidated his hold on Kudan Politics.’’

According to the statement, the Chairman of Kudan Local Government has appointed Hon Sanusi Magaji, popularly known as Mai Kwando, as his Senior Special Assistant on Empowerment and Polling Unit Coordination.

 The statement recalled that Hon. Magaji defected from PDP on August 11, following which pressures were mounted on him to either rescind his decision or join the ADC or SDP.

‘’With this appointment, Hon Magaji has become not just a member of APC but a very strong pillar of the party. Hon Dauda Iliya Abba has also proven his pre-eminence in Kudan politics,’’ the statement added.

‘’The appointment, which took effect following Mai Kwando’s formal defection from the PDP to the APC on August 11, 2025, is seen as a fitting reward for his decision to join the ruling party,’’ it added.

The statement recalled that ‘’in less than a year, serving PDP executives and other stakeholders have exited the party in Kudan to join the APC. This mass exodus signals Isa Ashiru’s fast-declining relevance in his own backyard and raises serious doubts about his capacity to sustain a credible gubernatorial bid, even within his party.’’

The statement further said that  the entry of Hon. Sanusi Magaji Mai Kwando into the APC, underscores the fact that ‘’ruling party in Kudan remains committed to strengthening grassroots structures, empowering communities, and consolidating its political dominance.’’