The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suffered a reported grassroots setback in Niger State, as thousands of youths in Gabas/Kudu Ward, Lapai Local Government Area, publicly burnt brooms and declared support for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mohammed Nami, ahead of the 2027 election.
The youths, who gathered in large numbers, sang, danced and chanted solidarity songs before setting hundreds of brooms—the APC’s symbol—ablaze in a dramatic show of support for Nami.
The group, which identified itself as the Kananan Kwari Support Group for Nami, was reportedly led by a prominent politician from the ward.
The development is significant because Gabas/Kudu has traditionally been regarded as an APC stronghold. An APC chieftain, Mohammed Bello, who disclosed the development in Minna, described the mobilisation as a setback for the ruling party.
“This is a setback for the APC because the party has remained in control of the ward since 2015. It is a pointer to the danger ahead of the 2027 elections in the area,” Bello said.
Gabas/Kudu Ward is also home to APC stalwart Muazu Jantabo, the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The reported mobilisation comes amid wider political realignments in Niger State ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties seeking to capitalise on disagreements within the ruling party and attract disaffected members.
Opposition supporters have interpreted the gathering as evidence of shifting loyalties in the ward, while the reported movement of APC members toward opposition platforms has added to the political pressure on the ruling party.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is also reported to have attracted a significant number of former APC members in the state, making the emerging political landscape increasingly competitive.
For the PDP, the Lapai gathering provides a visible grassroots show of support for Nami as the party prepares for the 2027 governorship contest.
But beyond the symbolism of hundreds of brooms going up in flames, the development highlights the importance of ward-level mobilisation in a state where political parties are already positioning themselves well ahead of the 2027 polls.
