Barely 13 months to the 2027 general elections, a tide of high-profile defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reshaped political fault lines across Nigeria but raised questions about the future political fortunes of five defected governors and allied lawmakers as internal party tensions deepen ahead of primaries.
Analysts and party sources warn that blending defectors with longstanding APC members may trigger fierce battles over leadership positions and nomination tickets.
The governors who abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC hail from Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Plateau and Enugu states. While their arrival has expanded APC’s numerical edge, internal dynamics threaten to undercut cohesion as competing political interests surface.
In Akwa Ibom State, the June 2025 defection of Governor Umo Eno from the PDP introduced a potential clash with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who commands significant federal influence.
The core question is how party tickets will be shared in 2027 without alienating defected lawmakers or long-established APC members. According to a party lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity,
“This crisis is inevitable. The smiles between Akpabio and Governor Eno will fade once INEC blows the whistle. Sharing tickets will displace many of us who followed Eno into APC. Some colleagues are already shopping for alternative platforms.”
In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who defected in April 2025, have strengthened APC’s dominance in the state. Oborevwori is widely tipped to be APC’s sole candidate for the governorship in 2027, with support from key stakeholders.
However, the position of former Deputy Senate President Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, a long-standing governorship aspirant, remains unclear, adding a degree of unpredictability to the nomination process.
Bayelsa State is experiencing a significant political shift following the defection of Governor Douye Diri. Party insiders say that while the move boosts APC’s strategic strength in the South-South region, internal friction between long-standing APC members and defectors loyal to former PDP factions could affect party unity and ticket allocations.
In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s December 2025 defection to the APC reignited political tensions within the party, particularly with supporters of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who is a dominant political figure in the state.
Fubara’s choice of faction and failure to consult Wike prior to his defection has deepened intra-party divisions that may complicate his bid for a second term under the APC.
Plateau State’s political terrain has shifted with the defection of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, a move that disrupted the state’s longstanding identity as a PDP stronghold.
While APC leaders welcomed the transition, analysts caution that unresolved loyalties and factional divides could weaken the party’s grassroots mobilisation.
In contrast, Enugu State appears relatively stable after Governor Peter Mbah’s defection, with party realignment efforts consolidating leadership under a caretaker chairman aligned with the governor’s faction. Observers say this may allow for smoother integration of structures ahead of 2027.
Political analysts note that while defections have bolstered APC’s numerical strength, converting elite consensus into party cohesion remains unresolved.
With nomination battles looming, the fate of defected governors and allied lawmakers may hinge on internal negotiations, zoning arrangements, and the party’s ability to reconcile competing interests before the 2027 polls.
Further developments are expected as APC stakeholders engage in strategic consultations and prepare for primary elections in the coming months.
