The All Progressives Congress (APC) is quietly expanding its influence across Southern Nigeria to strengthen President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 elections, despite currently controlling only nine of the 17 southern states.
At the end of the 2023 elections, APC held seven southern states, including Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Ebonyi, and Cross River. Since then, it has added Edo State through the upcoming September 2024 governorship election and Delta State, following Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection, alongside other key lawmakers and stakeholders.
This push, dubbed “Operation Jagabanise the South,” reflects a strategic effort to secure broad support for Tinubu’s re-election bid across the region. While the ruling party marks two years in office, rival parties have already begun moves to counter APC’s dominance. For example, former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, now with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), affirmed coalition talks aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
Meanwhile, some opposition figures are aligning with Tinubu. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators’ Caucus in Osun State publicly endorsed Tinubu for a second term, praising his leadership, national security improvements, and economic policies. Similarly, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno plans to defect from the PDP to the APC, citing Tinubu’s infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and expressing commitment to the president’s agenda.
Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) also revealed his party’s continued support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid. Governors Peter Mba (Enugu) and Alex Otti (Abia), from the PDP and Labour Party respectively, have maintained working relationships with the president, further solidifying his influence in the South East. Minister of Works Dave Umahi highlighted ongoing federal projects in the region and plans for a summit to formally endorse Tinubu.
Despite these gains, opposition coalitions remain optimistic about unseating Tinubu. El-Rufai emphasized that popular support outweighs gubernatorial influence, citing Tinubu’s loss in Lagos during the 2023 elections as evidence.
In the 2023 polls, Tinubu lost in 12 out of 17 southern states, including his home state Lagos, where Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP outperformed him in several states.
In response, Tinubu and the APC are mobilizing decisively. At the APC National Policy and Development Summit in Abuja, Tinubu welcomed defections from opposition parties, describing it as a natural part of democratic freedom. He reiterated his vision for Nigeria’s industrialization and economic revival, calling on party members to be patient as his administration works toward delivering on its promises ahead of 2027.
