JUST IN: Another Senator dumps opposition PDP, defects to APC

JUST IN: Another Senator dumps opposition PDP, defects to APC

The Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Sunday Marshall Katung, is set to officially defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

Katung’s planned defection marks a major political shift in Southern Kaduna, a region that has remained a stronghold of the PDP since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.

The move effectively ends more than 25 years of consistent loyalty to the main opposition party in the zone.

Sources close to the lawmaker revealed that his decision came after weeks of intensive consultations with key APC stakeholders both in Kaduna and Abuja, including Governor Uba Sani and influential members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inner circle.

Political observers describe the defection as a reflection of the changing political dynamics in Kaduna State, noting that “it is no longer about party labels but aligning with the new political reality.”

Just two weeks ago, Senator Katung had publicly dismissed reports of his planned defection, labeling them as “mere speculation.” His media team at the time issued a statement urging constituents to ignore “unfounded rumours,” stressing that the senator remained focused on his legislative responsibilities as a committed PDP member.

However, a senior political source in the district told reporters that many local leaders believe Southern Kaduna can no longer afford to remain in opposition, arguing that doing so has deprived the region of critical developmental opportunities.

Since 1999, every senator representing Kaduna South has emerged from the PDP, earning the region the moniker “Southern pillar” of the party’s dominance in the state. Katung’s expected defection to the APC is therefore seen as a historic political realignment that could redefine Southern Kaduna’s role in the state’s power structure.