Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has seen a major boost ahead of the 2027 general elections as opposition figures from key states defect en masse.
In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, along with the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure, formally joined the APC. The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and several members also switched allegiance.
The defections extended to Edo and Kano States. In Edo, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku and two other lawmakers crossed to the APC, while in Kano, Senator Kawu Sumaila and federal legislators left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the ruling party.
Observers say the moves reflect a strategic consolidation of political power by the APC, as murmurs grow about opposition figures aligning under a new platform, possibly the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
President Tinubu described the developments as democratic, stating, “You don’t blame a people bailing out of a sinking ship when there’s no life jacket.”
