The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed outrage over the recent defection of some of its elected leaders, including Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The party described the move as a betrayal of public trust and vowed to seek legal redress to reclaim its mandates.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday, formally received Senator Katung and several other politicians from Southern Kaduna into the APC during a mega rally held in Kafanchan. The event, organised by the Kaduna South Senatorial District chapter of the APC, drew thousands of supporters, party leaders, and government officials.

Among those who defected with Katung were: Hon. Daniel Amos, member representing Jama’a/Sanga Federal Constituency; Hon. Bashir K-Shadow, former member representing Kauru Federal Constituency, and several members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly from Zone III.

Tinubu was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Also in attendance were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani; the President’s Special Assistant on Political Matters, Malam Kabir Ibrahim Masari; as well as lawmakers, local government chairmen, political appointees, and other dignitaries.

In his remarks, Katung described his defection as a “historic political realignment” aimed at fostering closer collaboration with the federal and state governments for the benefit of Southern Kaduna.

“As I stated in my letter to my constituents, the decision to align with the government at the centre is a strategic one, intended to attract greater dividends of democracy to our communities,” Katung said.

He commended Tinubu for his inclusive approach to governance, citing the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and the Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to balanced national development.

“We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for considering Southern Kaduna in these landmark projects, which demonstrate his genuine commitment to equitable growth across Nigeria,” he added.

Katung said his move to the APC was “strategic and without regret,” stressing that it was motivated by a desire to sustain development and foster unity.

“We have no regrets about this decision. Southern Kaduna will benefit immensely from this act of alignment. To Governor Uba Sani, I say—you will never walk alone in Southern Kaduna. To Mr. President, I affirm—you will never be alone again in Southern Kaduna. We will match our words with action to ensure that both leaders receive the maximum support of our people,” he said.

Reacting to the development, the Kaduna State PDP, through its media strategist, Hon. Abdulsalam Abubakar Rijana, condemned the defections, describing them as a “gross betrayal” of the people’s trust and the party’s mandate.

In a statement released on Monday, Rijana said the defectors, who were elected on the PDP platform, had “abandoned the people’s mandate for personal interests.”

“These defectors, entrusted with the people’s mandate under the PDP, have abandoned the party and taken their legislative seats along with them. This unfortunate development has generated widespread discontent among loyal PDP members across Kaduna State,” the statement read.

The party vowed to defend the sanctity of the people’s votes through every lawful means, stressing that the defections undermined internal democracy and accountability.

“Their actions represent a profound betrayal of the trust and confidence reposed in them by the electorate. They were elected to promote the ideals, values, and policies of the PDP. Instead, they have chosen personal gain over loyalty and service,” it stated.

The PDP cited constitutional provisions that, it argued, render the defectors’ legislative seats vacant.

Rijana referenced sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulate that a legislator must vacate his or her seat if they defect to another party before the expiration of their tenure, except in cases of party division or merger.

“In simple terms,” the statement explained, “any legislator who was elected under a political party and defects to another without a genuine division or merger in the original party automatically forfeits his or her seat under the law.”

The party, therefore, demanded that all defecting members vacate their positions immediately, describing their actions as a violation of both the Constitution and the will of the people.

“The PDP will pursue every legal and constitutional measure necessary to reclaim its stolen mandates. We reaffirm our confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man,” the statement said.

The statement also dismissed what it called “baseless and malicious allegations” suggesting that the PDP had “sold out” to the Tinubu administration.

“We categorically state that these allegations are unfounded and mischievous, aimed at discrediting the image of our great party. The Kaduna PDP remains independent, united, and committed to the principles of democracy, justice, and service to the people,” it stated.

The party called on its members to remain calm, loyal, and focused amid the political turbulence.

“The defection of these leaders constitutes a blatant violation of the people’s trust and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The PDP in Kaduna State calls on its members to remain steadfast as we take lawful measures to reclaim our mandate,” the statement concluded.

Political observers in Kaduna have expressed mixed reactions to the wave of defections, particularly in the Southern Kaduna zone, where several key PDP figures have crossed over to the APC.

While some analysts view the trend as a sign of a weakening opposition, others warn that it could push Nigeria further toward one-party dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite these political shifts, citizens in Kaduna State continue to call for improved governance, transparency, and accountability. Many residents say the impact of government reforms has yet to reach rural communities, where poverty and lack of infrastructure remain major challenges.

Political commentators have urged both ruling and opposition parties to focus more on delivering good governance rather than pursuing political ambitions ahead of 2027.