Yaroe Defects to ADC, Cites Loyalty to Atiku and Need for Strong Opposition

News Rendezvous 

The Senator representing Adamawa South Senatorial District, Binos Dauda Yaroe, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing loyalty to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the need to strengthen opposition politics in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interaction with journalists, Yaroe said his decision was informed by consultations with his constituents across the nine local government areas of Adamawa South as well as his conviction that democracy thrives only when there is a strong opposition.

According to the senator, the internal crisis within the PDP had created uncertainty over the party’s structure and legitimacy, making it politically risky for aspirants intending to contest future elections.

“The PDP has become fractured into several factions and nobody can confidently say which one is legitimate. For anyone intending to contest elections in 2027, it would be dangerous to remain in such a situation,” Yaroe said.

He disclosed that he formally resigned his membership of the PDP on February 19 before engaging in further consultations with political allies and opposition lawmakers, which eventually led to his decision to join the ADC.

Yaroe also revealed that he was among nine senators from different opposition parties, including the Labour Party (Nigeria) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who collectively resolved to join the ADC as part of efforts to prevent Nigeria from drifting into a one-party system.

“We cannot all move to the ruling party. If everyone joins the APC, there will be no opposition left in the country. Democracy thrives when there is a strong voice of dissent,” he said.

The Adamawa South senator emphasised that personal political loyalty also played a major role in his decision, noting that Atiku Abubakar had supported him at critical moments in his political career.

“I have been with Atiku Abubakar from the beginning of my political journey. I am not someone who forgets those who stood by me in difficult times,” Yaroe stated, recalling the support he received during the PDP senatorial primaries in 2019 and his re-election in 2023.

Yaroe said it would have been politically inconsistent for him to join another political bloc while Atiku leads the emerging ADC coalition.

The senator also explained why he rejected overtures to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the ruling party had not done enough to address the development challenges facing Adamawa South.

According to him, the senatorial district, which comprises nine local government areas, has suffered from a near absence of federal government presence.

“With nine local governments in Adamawa South, there is hardly any federal presence — no university, no polytechnic and no major healthcare facility. What reason would I give my people for joining APC?” he asked.

Yaroe further lamented that a bill he sponsored for the establishment of a Federal College of Education in Numan failed to receive assent under the APC-led administration.

He added that most federal roads linking the area remain in poor condition, stressing that joining the ruling party without tangible benefits for his constituents would amount to betraying their trust.

The senator also criticised the suspension of Enyinnaya Abaribe by Senate leadership under Godswill Akpabio, describing the move as an attempt to ridicule opposition voices in the National Assembly.

Despite concerns about the preparedness of the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, Yaroe expressed confidence in the party’s leadership, pointing to the involvement of experienced political figures such as former Senate President David Mark.

“These are people who understand the political terrain and the electoral processes. They know the constitutional timelines and they know what they are doing,” he said.

Looking ahead, Yaroe confirmed that he intends to seek re-election to the Senate in 2027, noting that the next term would likely mark the final phase of his political career.

By then, he said, he would be above 75 years old and ready to bow out of active politics.