...As Tinubu Strengthens Political Coalition
In what appears to be a strategic political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, three sitting governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are reportedly set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governors in question are from Plateau, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States.
Sources within the APC confirmed that discussions are at an advanced stage, with formal declarations expected in the coming weeks. This move is seen as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader strategy to consolidate his political base and broaden the ruling party’s reach across the geopolitical zones.
In a related development, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), is also rumored to be on his way back to the APC—a party he once called home. Kwankwaso’s return is expected to significantly impact the political landscape in Kano State, which has remained a crucial battleground in Nigerian politics.
Political observers say the APC is "tightening all the loose ends" of its national coalition, which now informally includes elements from across the political spectrum: the APC itself, the PDP, the NNPP, the Labour Party (LP), and even the Shehu Gabam-led Social Democratic Party (SDP). The defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the legacy parties that formed the APC in 2013, has also reaffirmed its full support for President Tinubu.
Additionally, council chairmen across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are reportedly decamping en masse from the PDP to the APC, further signaling a major shift in grassroots political allegiance.
Reacting to the developments, Ebi Ajali Ebi, a prominent political commentator, congratulated President Tinubu and described the coalition realignment as a "defeat so massive that the opposition won't be able to explain how it happened."
With these defections and realignments, the APC is poised to become an even more dominant political force, blurring the lines between opposition and ruling party across several states.
