• LP achieved significant results in 2023 without state govs, says PDP national chair
• PDP chieftain warns defecting govs of consequences, blames Atiku for party’s woes
• Onanuga mocks ex-VP, says coalition bid dead on arrival
• Strengthen PDP, stop chasing fragile alliances, Sowunmi tells Atiku
• Party vows unity in Edo, accuses APC of plotting to destroy S’South opposition
In a move echoing the popular quip, “you ain’t seen nothing yet”, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday confirmed that more governors from opposition parties are set to defect to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, had, on Wednesday, announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, alongside his predecessor and former PDP vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Speaking in Abuja, during the formal reception of high-profile defectors from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State, Ganduje expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in 2027.
The defectors were led by Senator Kawu Sumaila, who represents Kano South Senatorial District. While declining to disclose the identities of the governors expected to join the APC, Ganduje assured party supporters that the groundwork for the 2027 elections was solidly in place.
“More governors are coming into APC, I assure you, and places where we have elections, APC, insha Allah, will win,” he declared. Ganduje praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, attributing the party’s growing appeal to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda. He said, “The electorate, who appreciate the progress made under President Tinubu, will continue to support the APC at the polls.
“The governor of Delta State is now in APC, including his cabinet, state assembly members, House of Representatives members, and even the former vice presidential candidate. APC is expanding, and 2027 is a done deal.”
Among the notable defectors from Kano State who officially joined the APC were Kabiru Alhasan Rurum, representing Rano/Kibiya in the House of Representatives; Abdullahi Sani Rogo; Zubairu Hamza Massu, member of the Kano State House of Assembly; Dr A.B. Baffa Bichi, former Secretary to the State Government; and former commissioners Mohd Digol and Abbas S. Abbas. Others include former governorship candidate Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal, and former House of Representatives members Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta and Idris Dankuwa.
Senator Sumaila, speaking on behalf of the defectors, pledged to secure victory for the APC in their constituencies. ACTING National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, criticised the defection of Oborevwori and Okowa to the APC, describing it as an act of ingratitude.
He also reminded members that Labour Party’s Peter Obi achieved significant results in 2023 without state governors, encouraging belief in grassroots mobilisation.
Speaking while presenting a Certificate of Return to the PDP candidate for the Anambra governorship election, Chief Ezenwafor Jude, Damagum said the party had been exceptionally supportive of Delta State, and did not deserve such betrayal.
He said, “It’s very sad and unfortunate because, to me, if there’s any state that should think that way, not Delta, because the party is very magnanimous… we have given Delta State all our support, from the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who also doubled as our vice presidential candidate. We least expected this action.”
Damagum assured party supporters that PDP structures in Delta would be reconstituted through a caretaker arrangement. “We are still taking stock and will do that immediately,” he said.
Turning attention to the 2027 general elections, Damagum urged Nigerians to hold the APC accountable for the country’s economic hardship, stating, “This election in 2027 is not about how many governors you have or how many leaders. It’s about Tinubu and Nigerians.”
He called for unity among PDP members, stressing that ordinary Nigerians must take ownership of the coming election, which he framed as a contest between the APC and the people. “I want to urge all of us to close ranks and rescue ourselves from this hardship that is inflicted on us by design, not by coincidence,” he added.
FORMER Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, called on PDP members to remain steadfast in the face of recent defections, insisting that the party is undergoing a necessary rebirth and will emerge stronger.
In a statement issued yesterday, Saraki responded to concerns from party members and supporters following the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He urged those who no longer believe in the PDP’s vision to leave, allowing committed members to focus on rebuilding the party.
“My view is that those who want to leave the PDP should leave now and let the rest of us who want to stay concentrate on rebuilding the party and refocusing it to play the role of a viable opposition,” Saraki said.
He emphasised the importance of a vibrant opposition in sustaining democracy, warning that the move towards a one-party state poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s diverse society. “A one-party state as being disingenuously designed by some people will not augur well for a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and highly diversified society like ours,” he cautioned.
Saraki criticised the lack of sincerity among some party leaders, stating that recent events have vindicated his decision to observe quietly. “There was no sincerity with supposed leaders of the opposition. One was not sure of the next person one was talking to,” he remarked.
Addressing party members nationwide, Saraki urged them to remain resolute and not be disheartened by the developments. He likened politics to a marathon, not a sprint, and stressed that the PDP still has time to reposition itself before the 2027 elections.
“It is not necessary at this point to lament why they left. We should stay strong and focus on strengthening the party,” he added. Saraki also called for an end to blaming the ruling party for PDP’s challenges, encouraging members to take responsibility and seize the moment to build a stronger platform. “Our party members should refrain from blaming our woes on the ruling party. That would be a lazy approach,” he stated.
He described Okowa’s defection as unprecedented and indicative of the collapse of leadership values in the polity but insisted that the PDP remains capable of winning future elections, even with fewer but more committed members.
“We still have about two years before the next election. That is a long time in politics,” Saraki noted, calling on young members and women to play key roles in the party’s revival. He concluded by expressing confidence that the PDP will overcome current challenges, urging members not to lose hope.
“We should see the current development as a challenge to rebuild and refocus the party. Tomorrow is very bright,” he said.
ALSO, the anti-Tinubu coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, downplayed the defections, describing them as unsurprising and inconsequential to its plans for 2027.
Reacting to the development, the coalition’s spokesman, Salihu Lukman, said the move was anticipated, adding that more PDP governors are expected to join the APC. He stated, “Anybody who says this is unexpected is only deceiving himself. The signals have been there. It’s not just one, but several governors.”
Lukman criticised the current state of the PDP, calling it a shadow of its former self. He acknowledged that while some PDP leaders are hopeful of reviving the party, many within its ranks are believed to be working for President Bola Tinubu.
“When the governors issued a statement against the coalition, our response was that many were already working for Asiwaju. Shortly after, you saw moves from Akwa Ibom and now Delta,” he said.
He further stated that the defection would not derail the coalition’s objective of providing Nigerians with a viable alternative in the 2027 general elections.
“What has happened with some governors moving into APC is not going to distract us. The full details of the coalition will soon be unveiled, along with the strategy for contesting the election,” Lukman assured.
He also urged the PDP to use the current crisis for self-reflection, suggesting that genuine efforts to rebuild the party could lead to its inclusion in the coalition’s broader agenda.
“The PDP must move away from a culture of candidate imposition and godfatherism. If they can rebuild, we can see them as partners in rescuing Nigeria,” Lukman said.
THIS came as presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, taunted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, claiming his political prospects have dimmed amid rising defections and internal crisis within the PDP.
In a post on his X page, Onanuga mocked Atiku, saying the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa signals the collapse of Atiku’s proposed 2027 coalition.
The coalition was reported to include former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.
Onanuga wrote that the defection of Atiku’s allies undermines the coalition’s viability, stating, “With the implosion in the PDP, and the exit of key figures, Atiku’s political future is bleak. His coalition plan is dead on arrival.”
Also, Segun Sowunmi, a PDP chieftain, criticised Atiku’s coalition efforts, warning that they could further destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Sowunmi urged Atiku to strengthen the PDP instead of seeking alliances outside the party.
“You were given the PDP presidential ticket twice; you were vice president under the PDP twice. Whatever coalition or amalgamation you are planning, it must be within the PDP,” he cautioned.
Sowunmi, who described himself as Atiku’s most loyal supporter, argued that most of the individuals being courted for the coalition are not genuinely loyal to Atiku. He accused them of pretending to align with Atiku while harbouring different agendas.
“I do not agree that you are going to empty a big party into some small organisation. Many of those claiming to support you in this coalition do not even agree with you. They pretend, but I know what they say behind your back,” he said.
Sowunmi questioned Atiku’s motives, expressing disappointment that someone who has benefitted the most from the PDP would consider actions that could harm the party’s unity.
MEANWHILE, a chieftain of the PDP in Oyo State, Bisi Olopoeyan, cautioned governors under the party’s platform against defecting to the ruling APC, warning that their actions could have grave consequences for Nigeria’s democracy.
He said the move by Oborevwori and Okowa could undermine the multi-party structure of the country and push Nigeria towards a one-party state. Olopoeyan stated that those hastily aligning with the APC might live to regret it. “It will only take the ruling party to annihilate PDP and then turn Nigeria into one party state. Since 2015, when APC assumed power, the only opposition voice is the PDP,” he said.
Olopoeyan criticised Okowa and Oborevwori, accusing them of ingratitude to the PDP. He also questioned the leadership style of President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the current administration is coercing opposition members unlike previous governments led by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari.
He blamed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the party’s woes, citing his 2015 defection as the foundation of the PDP’s ongoing struggles. Olopoeyan warned the suspended Rivers State governor, Similayi Fubara, against defecting, cautioning that such a move could cost him his political relevance.
However, Norbeth Sochukwudinma, Senior Special Assistant to the APC National Chairman on Local Government Affairs, refuted claims that the defections were motivated by fear of EFCC harassment. He stated that the defectors joined the APC in recognition of the development strides under President Tinubu. “It is not a survival move at all,” he said.
Sochukwudinma added that Governor Oborevwori would play a key role in strengthening the APC in Delta State, while the probe of any individual would continue irrespective of party affiliation.
RELATEDLY, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the South-West, Sanya Atofarati, assured that the zone remains stable, with Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun) firmly in control. He also praised the loyalty of party leaders like Chief Olabode George and expressed optimism for PDP’s resurgence in 2027.
Similarly, the Edo State Chapter of the PDP declared that the party remains strong and united, warning members to beware of individuals working to undermine its influence in the South-South and across Nigeria.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin, Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Edo, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, said the party is focused on reclaiming what it described as a stolen mandate from its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the recent governorship election. He assured members that the party would not be distracted by internal and external threats.
Chief Tom Ikimi, a PDP stalwart, stressed that the survival of the party is essential for Nigeria’s future, accusing the APC of being hijacked by self-serving individuals.
“We are witnessing desperate efforts to destroy the PDP, aiming for a one-party dictatorship. The only path forward for Nigeria is the survival of the PDP,” he said.
