Former IGP Suleiman Abba Joins PDP, Bids for Jigawa Southwest Senate Seat
Former Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba has left the All Progressives Congress to join the Peoples Democratic Party, declaring his intention to contest the Jigawa Southwest Senate seat.
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Former Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba has formally left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State, positioning himself to contest the Senate seat for Jigawa Southwest. The move, confirmed over the weekend, marks a significant shift in the state’s political landscape ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Abba’s defection was reported by This Day, which cited his public declaration in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital. The former police chief did not contest under the APC banner and has now aligned with the PDP, a major opposition party in the region. His entry into the race introduces a high-profile security figure into a traditionally competitive senatorial district.
Naija News corroborated the switch, reporting that Abba has officially severed ties with the APC and joined the PDP. While he has not yet been officially nominated as the party’s candidate, his declaration signals a clear intent to seek the senatorial ticket. The PDP has not issued an official statement on Abba’s candidacy, but party leaders in Jigawa have acknowledged his membership.
Abba served as IGP from 2015 to 2016, appointed during the transition between administrations. His tenure, though brief, placed him at the center of Nigeria’s internal security architecture during a period of regional instability. His political repositioning adds to a growing trend of security officials transitioning into electoral politics. The Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to publish the final list of candidates for the Jigawa Southwest race, but Abba’s affiliation with the PDP is now public.