APC set to Control 27 States as Diri, Kefas, Yusuf Consider Defection

APC set to Control 27 States as Diri, Kefas, Yusuf Consider Defection

A quiet but consequential realignment is underway in Nigeria’s political landscape, as fresh indications suggest that at least three sitting governors from opposition parties are preparing to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the year ends.

Among those reportedly finalising plans to switch allegiance are Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, and Kano State’s Abba Kabir Yusuf, the sole 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.

Sources close to the developments 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.

Meanwhile, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal has denied plans to defect, though sources close to him suggest the possibility remains open. In Osun, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s earlier attempt to join the APC was reportedly blocked by party stakeholders wary of his influence over the party’s structure.

Observers view the wave of defections particularly from the South South and South East, as part of President Tinubu’s broader strategy to consolidate power across southern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections. The APC now controls three of five South East states, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu, while Anambra’s APGA-led government has endorsed Tinubu for re-election. Abia’s Labour Party governor, Alex Otti, is also seen as sympathetic to the administration.

In the South West, Tinubu’s home region, the APC governs four of six states. Osun’s PDP-led government has endorsed the president, and Oyo’s Governor Seyi Makinde, who supported Tinubu in 2023, is expected to pursue the PDP’s presidential ticket.

Should Kefas finalise his defection, he would become the first opposition governor from the North to join the APC under Tinubu’s leadership, a move that could trigger similar shifts in other northern states, including Kano. Governor Yusuf’s decision, sources say, hinges on the outcome of negotiations to reintegrate Kwankwaso into the APC fold.