APC receives opposition figures in Katsina as 2027 contest takes shape

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has received former Katsina State Secretary to the Government Mustapha Inuwa and other political figures into the All Progressives Congress, in a ceremony presented by party leaders as a major realignment ahead of the 2027 elections. The reception took place on Sunday at the People’s Square in the Katsina State Government House during Shettima’s one-day visit. Channels Television reported that Shettima linked the movement of opposition politicians to what he described as growing confidence in Governor Dikko Radda’s administration.

Shettima declared that “Katsina is for Dikko Radda” and said the influx represented a boost for the APC. Punch Nigeria reported that the Vice-President expressed confidence the party would win across the state in 2027, saying Katsina was firmly rooted in the ruling party. Inuwa is the most prominent figure identified in the reports.

Punch said he had previously led the African Democratic Congress in Katsina after leaving the APC, but later resigned from the ADC and directed supporters who had followed him to return to the ruling party. His return was formally marked at Sunday’s event. He previously served as Secretary to the State Government under former Governor Aminu Masari and was the first APC chairman in Katsina State, according to Punch.

He also contested the APC governorship primary in 2022, finishing second to Radda, before moving to the Peoples Democratic Party and later becoming associated with the opposition. Channels reported that the latest entrants also included former House of Representatives members Aminu Chindo and Abdul-Aziz Dandume, former local government chairman Bala Baure, former ADC legal adviser Auwalu and Sallau Karawa. The report said other opposition leaders, serving lawmakers and political stakeholders from the PDP, ADC and Action Alliance joined them.

Radda said the defections would expand the APC’s grassroots organisation and improve its position in future elections. He also reaffirmed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and said the party would seek victory for its candidates throughout the state. APC chairman Bashir Saulawa promised the new members equal opportunities and full integration.

Inuwa described his return as a homecoming and urged party members to focus on electoral success rather than internal disputes. He said the decision had been taken to advance political aspirations and protect supporters’ interests. The reports present the event primarily as party consolidation, although they do not provide an independent assessment of the size of the defections or their effect on the 2027 contests.