Marafa Dumps ADC For NDC, Cites Legal Uncertainty Ahead Of 2027

 Marafa Dumps ADC for NDC, Cites Legal Uncertainty Ahead of 2027

Former Zamfara Central senator, Kabir Garba Marafa, has defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), attributing his decision to lingering legal disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and looming electoral deadlines.

Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, formally joined the NDC on Tuesday alongside his supporters. He was received in Abuja by the party’s National Leader and Bayelsa West senator, Seriake Dickson, as well as the NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, and other stakeholders.

The move marks Marafa’s second political switch in less than a month, coming barely three weeks after he joined the ADC on April 8, 2026. He had earlier exited the All Progressives Congress (APC) in August 2025, citing internal disagreements.

Explaining his latest defection, Marafa pointed to uncertainties surrounding multiple court cases involving the ADC, warning that the party’s legal battles could jeopardise his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections. He noted that the tight timeline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) leaves little room for prolonged litigation.

According to him, participation in elections requires certainty of platform, which he believes the ADC may struggle to guarantee. He questioned the party’s prospects of resolving its legal issues before crucial deadlines for primaries and candidate submissions, stressing that unresolved disputes could leave aspirants stranded.

Marafa maintained that his decision was not borne out of hostility towards the ADC but rather a pragmatic response to political realities. He said consultations with his supporters and legal advisers informed the move to the NDC, which he described as a more stable platform at this stage of the electoral cycle.

He also pledged to abide by the decisions of his new party, including its eventual choice of presidential candidate, signalling readiness to align with its internal processes.

Welcoming the former lawmaker, Dickson described Marafa as an influential political figure whose entry would bolster the NDC’s strength, particularly in Zamfara State and the wider North-West region. He urged him to deploy his grassroots network to mobilise support and contribute to addressing insecurity in the region.