Former Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with plans to contest the Jigawa South-West senatorial seat in 2027. Abba announced his defection Saturday during a visit to elder statesman and founding PDP member Sule Lamido at Lamido's hometown of Bamaina in Jigawa State, where he was received by party leaders and supporters at a rally. Abba said his decision followed growing calls from constituents to run for the seat, but also stemmed from frustration with the APC, where he says he was blocked from contesting the party's senatorial primary despite meeting all screening requirements. "You are aware that I aspired to become a senator under the APC, but unfortunately, I was not even allowed to participate in the primary election after successfully passing the screening process," he said, adding that his campaign under the PDP banner would prioritize security, agriculture and youth employment. "I will take the voice of our farmers, our youths, and our women to the Senate if elected," he said. Receiving the former police chief, Lamido called the defection a major boost for the PDP ahead of the 2027 general election, noting that the rally also drew PDP governorship candidates from Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Jigawa states as a show of the party's unity across the North. "Suleiman Abba served this country with honour as IGP. Now he wants to serve Jigawa South West in the Senate. We will stand with him," Lamido said. Jigawa State PDP Chairman Babandi Gumel added that the party's ward, local government and zonal structures were mobilizing to integrate Abba and his supporters, while the PDP's Jigawa governorship candidate, Mustapha Lamido, said the defection would strengthen the party's prospects in the state. The move adds to a broader wave of political realignments sweeping Jigawa and neighboring states as parties jostle for position ahead of the 2027 polls, with defections in recent months moving in both directions between the APC and PDP.