An ally of ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo and former Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Sani Sidi, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, along with several PDP supporters.
The defection ceremony was attended by top APC officials, including Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas.
Speaking at the event held at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, Kaduna, on Wednesday, Sani welcomed Sidi and his supporters to the APC, while assuring them of fairness and inclusiveness within the party.
‘Muhammad Sani Sidi is back to APC because of how we are governing the state, based on justice and the needs of our people’, Sani said.
The governor described the day as ‘one of the happiest’ in the history of the APC in Kaduna, emphasising the political significance of Sani Sidi’s move.
‘Whether we like it or not, Sani Sidi, as we fondly call him, is one of the leading political figures in our state.
‘He has paid his dues and made numerous contributions to the development of our state’, the governor said.
He stressed that Sidi’s decision to join the APC was not based on personal ambition but on a genuine desire to serve the people.
‘He is extremely comfortable. He has enough for himself. But for him, politics is about people, development, our state, and our country’, he added.
Abbas praised the inclusive leadership of the governor and emphasised the importance of national unity, noting that Sidi’s defection was a reflection of the APC’s growing appeal across political divides.
In his speech, Sidi said he was motivated by a shared vision of progress and sustainable development.
‘It is with a deep sense of humility, gratitude, and unwavering conviction that I stand before you today to announce my official defection to the APC, a party I believe holds the promise of a better Kaduna State and a greater Nigeria’, he said.
Sidi commended the governor for his developmental strides in infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, and security, noting that these efforts had ‘rekindled hope in the hearts of many citizens’.
He also praised Speaker Abbas for his legislative leadership and representation.
Sidi recalled his service both at NEMA and as a former Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, affirming that his mission had always been ‘to uplift lives and empower our people’.
He revealed that after months of consultations with stakeholders across all 23 local government areas of Kaduna State, he and his supporters concluded that the APC was best aligned with their values and aspirations.
‘We are here not merely as defectors, but as partners in progress’, he said.
He also announced the defection of key PDP figures, including two former state chairmen, a former secretary, and a former member of the state assembly.
Sani Sidi pledged full loyalty to the APC and promised to work tirelessly with the party leadership to build a peaceful, united, and prosperous Kaduna State.
