APC Tightens Grip as More Opposition Figures Prepare to Defect Ahead of 2027

Nigeria’s political dynamics are shifting rapidly as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to strengthen its hold ahead of the 2027 general elections, with more opposition figures reportedly preparing to defect. The growing exodus from the opposition parties—particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP)—has raised concerns about the future of a competitive multi-party democracy in the country.

Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, defections have intensified, particularly within the National Assembly. The 10th Assembly initially saw the APC holding 59 seats in the Senate, with opposition parties occupying 50 seats. In the House of Representatives, the APC started with 175 seats while opposition lawmakers held 182. However, those numbers have shifted significantly in favor of the ruling party.

Within months of the Assembly’s inauguration, six senators and 24 House members crossed over to the APC, boosting the party’s influence and reducing opposition presence in both chambers. The most notable wave of defections occurred in Delta State, where Governor Sheriff Oborevwori led his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa and the entire PDP structure into the APC on April 23. That followed similar movements in Edo State, where four state lawmakers defected from the PDP and LP to the ruling party in March.

Insiders reveal that these defections are not coincidental but part of a well-coordinated strategy by the APC to dominate the political landscape ahead of 2027. Reports suggest that the ruling party has intensified negotiations with several opposition governors and lawmakers, especially in the North. States like Adamawa, Zamfara, Kano, and Plateau are said to be under increasing pressure, with political deals reportedly involving re-election assurances and other undisclosed incentives.

A senior PDP figure, who requested anonymity, claimed the APC aims to “capture” key opposition strongholds before next year’s primaries. “Anywhere APC sees a threat, they’re moving fast to neutralize it,” he said. “It’s all part of a plan to control the narrative and structure of the 2027 elections.”

There are growing concerns within the PDP that the upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27 may determine the fate of the party’s cohesion. In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is reportedly under pressure to either join the APC or publicly endorse Tinubu’s re-election bid, echoing similar political alignments in other states.

The APC’s expansionist strategy has reignited fears of a possible slide toward a one-party state. These fears were amplified by recent comments made by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. While presenting three defecting senators from Kebbi State to President Tinubu, Ganduje stated that “there is nothing wrong with a one-party system” and suggested that such a structure could emerge through persuasion rather than coercion.

His comments were met with sharp criticism from political observers. Analyst James Agaba warned that such rhetoric threatens Nigeria’s fragile democracy. “That’s power intoxication,” he said. “If the ruling party eliminates opposition, it opens the door for autocracy. The essence of democracy is to have checks and balances—without that, governance becomes unchecked and dangerous.”

Despite Ganduje’s statement, the presidency has denied any official plan to establish a one-party state. However, the continued weakening of opposition parties through defections has deepened suspicions among civil society groups and political analysts about the true intentions of the ruling party as it builds momentum for 2027.