Political realignments are accelerating across Nigeria as the 2027 general elections draw closer, with high-profile defections reshaping party landscapes. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025, citing alignment with President Bola Tinubu's administration. "We have every reason… our only thank-you to Mr President is to support him… we are moving to APC," Fubara said at a stakeholders' meeting. In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori led a large-scale shift of party structures to the APC, calling it "a movement, not a defection" during a public reception. Similar moves were recorded in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu and Plateau states, with Governors Umo Eno, Douye Diri, Peter Mbah and Caleb Mutfwang joining the APC. However, shifts are not one-sided. In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke left the PDP for the Accord Party, while in Zamfara, Governor Dauda Lawal joined the APC, prompting former commissioner Wadatau Madawaki to resign. "I only resigned because the governor is joining the APC. I'm a PDP member; I've never been an APC, and I'm not ready to be an APC member," Madawaki said. Peter Obi formally aligned with the African Democratic Congress, stating, "The next election will not be about political parties; it will be a case of Nigerians against bad leadership." Former Imo Deputy Governor Eze Madumere left the APC after "deep personal reflection," while several lawmakers have moved to the ADC due to internal party crises. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read letters in plenary citing "persistent internal crisis, leadership disagreements, litigations, and divisions" as reasons for exits. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the shifts as significant for democratic balance.
The scale of defections into the APC, including governors like Siminalayi Fubara and Sheriff Oborevwori, reveals a strategic consolidation around the presidency rather than a grassroots political shift. This movement does not necessarily reflect public sentiment but underscores how access to federal power continues to shape elite loyalty in Nigeria. For ordinary Nigerians, the realignment offers little assurance of improved governance, as the focus remains on survival and influence within existing structures. The exits to parties like the ADC and Accord suggest some actors are betting on alternative narratives, but their impact hinges on more than symbolism.
