Mustapha Bala Dawaki, a former Chief of Staff to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dawaki, who previously represented a federal constituency in Kano State, joined the opposition party a week after losing the APC ticket for the 2027 elections following a consensus arrangement within the party.

His defection was confirmed on Monday by Saifullahi Hassan, a media aide to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a key leader of the NDC and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

According to Hassan, the development was formalised during a meeting at Kwankwaso’s residence in Kano.

“Today, Leader Kwankwaso welcomed Mustapha Bala Dawaki, who used to be the Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, to the NDC Kwankwasiyya,” Hassan said in a Facebook post.

The move comes as the NDC continues internal discussions on candidate selection ahead of upcoming elections in Kano State.

It remains unclear whether Dawaki will be automatically considered for a party ticket following his defection.