Ahead of 2027 general elections, fresh indications suggest that at least three state governors from opposition parties are preparing to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the end of the year.
Among those reportedly finalising plans to switch allegiance are Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and Kano State’s Abba Kabir Yusuf, the only governor from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
If they eventually dumped their parties, the ruling APC will now control 27 out of 36 states.
Multiple sources disclosed that Yusuf’s defection will likely be part of a broader move by the Kwankwasiyya political movement, led by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to abandon the NNPP.
Kwankwaso is said to have presented conditions to President Bola Tinubu for rejoining the APC, conditions that insiders claim have largely been met.
Speaking at his residence in Kano, Kwankwaso said, “We have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP, and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya.”
He also stressed that NNPP has a strong national presence, with gubernatorial candidates and structures in multiple states.
In Taraba, Governor Kefas’ potential defection has gained momentum following weeks of speculation and a youth-led rally in Jalingo urging him to join the APC.
His aides have reportedly launched consultations across the state, and a committee co-chaired by former Senator Dahiru Bako has been tasked with gauging public sentiment.
“The governor will not make any political move without hearing from the people and carrying them along,” Bako said during one of the meetings.
While the APC in Taraba has expressed readiness to welcome Kefas, the prospect of his defection has stirred unease among party loyalists, particularly those eyeing tickets for the 2027 elections.
Many fear that an influx of PDP lawmakers and appointees could disrupt the internal balance of power and reduce their chances of nomination.
Kefas’ possible move follows the formal defection of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to the APC earlier this week, a shift that brought most PDP structures in the state under the ruling party’s control.
Mbah’s move mirrors earlier defections by Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno and Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori, both of whom cited alignment with federal priorities as a key motivation.
Diri, the only second-term PDP governor among the trio, is reportedly considering a similar move amid internal party struggles.
A faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has challenged Diri’s control of the PDP structure in Bayelsa, prompting speculation that the APC may offer a more stable political platform.
With most of his South South counterparts now in the APC, Diri’s options within the PDP appear increasingly limited.
