By Willies Ugo
Gombe, December 19, 2025
The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Mohammed Jibrin Barde, has formally declared his membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the opposition is now prepared to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges.
Barde made the declaration on Thursday while briefing journalists in Gombe, alongside some notable former PDP stalwarts who also announced their defection to the ADC.
He said the ADC, operating under the Hausa slogan “sabuwar tafiya” (new movement), has over the past year been engaging political leaders and stakeholders across the country with a view to offering Nigerians a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the movement involves prominent political figures cutting across party lines, including a former Vice President, ex-governors, a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party and several former ministers.
“For over one year now, we have been part of a very strong national movement, working with leaders across the country,” Barde said. “The objective is to rescue Nigeria from the challenges we are facing today—rising insecurity, economic hardship and the poor state of our social infrastructure.”
He explained that despite several challenges encountered during the process, the movement has now stabilised and fully adopted the ADC as its political platform.
Barde disclosed that the party has issued official circulars outlining its programme of activities, including membership registration, revalidation of existing members and mobilisation of new members nationwide.
He added that congresses would be conducted from the unit to the ward, local government and state levels before the end of January, while a non-elective national convention has been scheduled for February.
Calling on ADC members and supporters in Gombe State to actively participate in the exercise, Barde urged them to mobilise residents across the state to strengthen the party ahead of the next electoral cycle.
On reports of internal divisions, the former PDP governorship candidate dismissed claims of factionalisation within the ADC in Gombe State.
“I am not aware of any faction in Gombe State. We are united,” he said. “God has already blessed us with a large number of committed members, and we are fully determined to rescue the state.”
The development is seen as a significant boost for the ADC in Gombe State as political realignments continue to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
