As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, a fierce political undercurrent is reshaping the nation’s landscape. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has intensified cross-party negotiations, aggressively courting opposition governors with enticing offers in a bid to consolidate power and secure Tinubu’s re-election.
Our correspondent investigation reveals a calculated strategy by the APC to weaken opposition parties by luring their sitting governors and prominent leaders with high-stakes political rewards. The deals reportedly include automatic return tickets, the liberty to choose their successors, ministerial slots, and National Assembly nominations.
This political realignment has left opposition camps in disarray. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are grappling with internal divisions, defection of top members, and increasing pressure from the APC’s expanding reach.
In a notable defection, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa—who was PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate—publicly joined the APC in April. Similarly, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, while still officially a PDP member, has expressed open support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition and is widely believed to be on the verge of decamping.
Sources disclosed that former Akwa Ibom governor Udom Emmanuel, during a PDP meeting, confirmed that Eno had defected to the APC, attributing the move to fears of political vulnerability in 2027 without federal backing.
In another strategic move, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu recently held a four-hour closed-door meeting with Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, an Atiku loyalist. Sources disclosed that Ribadu offered Fintiri substantial political incentives, including the right to produce his successor and an offer to run for Senate or serve as a minister post-2027—if he joined the APC.
The meeting, held at the Adamawa Government House, was shrouded in secrecy, with journalists ejected from the venue. Although the governor’s media aide refused to comment, the nature of the meeting has fueled speculation of imminent defection.
The APC’s strategy is not limited to state governors. Since July 2023, at least 38 lawmakers—8 senators and 30 members of the House of Representatives—have defected to the ruling party. Notable defectors include Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Imo East), and several House members from Delta, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Jigawa.
Kebbi State saw a complete sweep when Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki defected following a strategic meeting with President Tinubu. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the wave of defections as part of a “government of national unity,” asserting that no coercion was involved.
In the current 10th Assembly, the APC holds a majority with 59 Senators and 175 Representatives, and its influence continues to grow. The defection of opposition members has significantly weakened the PDP, LP, and NNPP’s influence in federal legislation.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has not remained silent. In a strong rebuke issued through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the APC’s moves as a “desperate cling to power” and condemned opposition leaders who, in his words, are “rewarding incompetence with allegiance.”
“Food inflation is rising, insecurity is rampant, and the standard of living is declining. Supporting Tinubu is endorsing a failed administration,” Atiku said.
He further accused the APC of using state power to intimidate and blackmail opposition figures into switching allegiances, even suggesting that some defections are being coerced through threats of exposure over corruption allegations.
Atiku called on opposition leaders to unite under a coalition to rescue Nigeria from “authoritarianism” and a creeping one-party system.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, echoed Atiku’s sentiments, asserting that the 2027 election would be a battle between “the Nigerian people and the APC.” He described the APC as a “rudderless government” and claimed the wave of defections is driven by hunger, fear, and political desperation.
Similarly, the NNPP’s spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed rumours of key members like Rabiu Kwankwaso or Kano Governor Abba Yusuf defecting. However, he admitted that the political atmosphere is tense and worrisome.
“The defectors are driven by stomach infrastructure. But Nigerians must not reward betrayal with votes. This is the time to reject political opportunism and reclaim Nigeria,” he stated.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra (APGA) and NNPP’s Kwankwaso have also been linked to quiet alignments with Tinubu’s 2027 bid. Although no formal defections have occurred, political analysts suggest a larger coalition-building strategy is underway behind the scenes.
A senior APC official told our correspondent that the objective is to secure at least 24 out of the 36 states before the 2027 election, solidifying a national presence that makes Tinubu’s re-election nearly unassailable.
With defections continuing and more opposition leaders reportedly in negotiation with APC agents, the Nigerian political landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. Analysts warn that if unchecked, the trend could undermine multi-party democracy and entrench a de facto one-party system.
Still, critics argue that President Tinubu is merely executing a well-known political strategy: consolidating power ahead of a second-term bid.
Whether this strategy will ultimately succeed or backfire in the face of mounting public frustration over economic hardship, insecurity, and governance challenges remains to be seen.