Gombe: Ex-PDP guber candidate announces defection to ADC

Gombe: Ex-PDP guber candidate announces defection to ADC

Mr Jibrin Barde, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe, in the 2023 General Election has formally announced his defection to the African Democratic Party(ADC).

Barde made the announcement in Gombe on Tuesday night during a chat with journalists in the state.

The announcement puts to rest, series of speculations about Barde’s actual party after leading some opposition blocs in July, to adopt ADC as a party for opposition coalition in the state.

Speaking about his defection, he said that he had since left the PDP early 2025 to join ADC with the mission to challenge the All Progressives Congress-led government in the state.

He said that though there had been speculations around the political party he belonged, with some speculating that he was a member of Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“I don’t have any stint with the SDP; I was a member of the PDP, I left the PDP early this year.

“There had been speculations across the state, nobody is aware of anything but of course I have left the PDP.

” I have been a member of the ADC formally since early this year.

“I am a member of the ADC and anybody who claims not to be a member of the ADC should come and show his membership card.

“This is my membership card and I am ready to revalidate it,” he said.

Speaking on his role in opposition coalition, Barde said that he had been working in collaboration with other opposition coalition members to bring together all the parties.

He said that except opposition parties in the state worked together and stayed united on a course, it would be difficult to oust the APC government.

“I call on members of the ADC in the state to come together and let us get this coalition stronger, that is what has happened at the national level.”

He said that the ADC ran an open door policy and did not believe in imposition as the party remains one-man one-vote party.

Barde said that Atiku Abubakar, Nasiru El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola had joined the ADC long ago. “What we are going to do now is revalidation of membership and mobilisation of new members.”

He called on the members of the PDP and all other opposition parties in the state to join the coalition movement to oust the All Progressives Congress at the state and national level.

Barde assured residents of Gombe State of good governance should the ADC form the next government, saying: “If we had taken over our government in 2023, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Gombe: Ex-PDP guber candidate announces defection to ADC