The wave of defections from opposition parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continued this week, with two lawmakers from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representative in the House of Representatives joining the ruling party. This comes amid growing concerns about the survival of opposition politics in Nigeria.
Abdullahi Rogo and Kabiru Rurum, who represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituencies in Kano State, announced their switch from NNPP to APC. PDP lawmaker Wole Oke, representing Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, also defected during Thursday’s plenary in the presence of APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The Minority Whip, Isa Ali, challenged the legality of the defections, citing constitutional concerns. So far, at least 30 opposition lawmakers have defected to the APC.
In Kebbi, the state government declared the PDP “politically dead” following the defection of three serving senators — Adamu Aliero, Garba Maidoki, and Yahaya Abdullahi — to the APC. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed, described their exit as “the final nail in the coffin” of the PDP in the state.
Meanwhile, in Zamfara, an APC support group raised alarm over alleged plans by Governor Dauda Lawal to join the ruling party. The group accused him of seeking refuge in the APC to escape corruption investigations linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and ex-CBN governor Godwin Emefiele. They warned the party’s national leadership against admitting him, insisting he should remain in the PDP and test his popularity in the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the concerns, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party was not pushing for a one-party state. Speaking on Arise TV, Morka argued that defections were a democratic right and reflected support for the APC’s ideology. He added that the PDP once controlled over 28 states without facing similar accusations.
“We’re not eliminating opposition. Our focus is strengthening our party, not silencing others,” Morka said.
