Former Niger PDP Chairman Tanko Beji defects to APC

Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Niger State, Tanko Beji, has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Beji, who previously led the PDP in Niger State, joined the APC, the party that currently controls the state government under Governor Umaru Bago.

Details of the circumstances surrounding Beji’s decision to leave the PDP and join the APC were not immediately made public.

It was also not immediately clear whether the former PDP chairman had submitted a resignation letter to his former party before his reported move to the APC.

Beji served as Niger PDP chairman during the party’s preparations for the 2023 general election.

As chairman, he spoke publicly on issues affecting the party and represented the Niger PDP during political activities in the state. 

The former chairman was also involved in the PDP’s preparations for the 2023 governorship election in Niger State. Before the 2023 general election, Beji said the Niger PDP had acquired 100 vehicles for its campaigns. He said the party would run an issue-based campaign for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, governorship candidate, Isah Liman Kantigi, and other candidates.

His reported defection comes after he previously played down the impact of defections from the PDP in the state.

In July 2024, Beji said the Niger PDP was not disturbed by the departure of some members from the party.

He described defections as normal in politics while reacting to political movements involving members of the party.

At the time, Beji maintained that the PDP would continue to function in Niger State despite the exit of some of its members.

His own reported decision to move to the APC now marks a major change in his political affiliation.

Beji also featured in the political debate that followed the endorsement of Governor Bago for a second term by Isah Liman Kantigi, the PDP’s governorship candidate in the 2023 election.

In January 2025, Kantigi backed Bago’s re-election bid despite being the PDP candidate in the previous governorship poll.

Beji, who was then identified as Niger PDP chairman, distanced the party from Kantigi’s position.

He said Kantigi was speaking in his personal capacity and did not represent the position of the Niger State chapter of the PDP.

Beji’s position at the time placed him among PDP leaders resisting efforts to link the party to Bago’s 2027 re-election campaign.

The party chairman said Kantigi’s endorsement did not alter the PDP’s position in Niger State.

The disagreement drew attention because Kantigi flew the PDP flag in the 2023 governorship election.

Beji’s decision to join the APC has now added a new dimension to that earlier political development, coming after he publicly maintained that Kantigi was acting on his own.

The former chairman’s reported move to the APC means he has now joined the party led in Niger State by Bago.

The APC is the ruling party in the state, while the PDP remains one of the opposition parties with structures across Niger State.

Beji has yet to publicly explain whether his decision was influenced by developments within the PDP, his relationship with the APC or his future political plans.