As Nigeria heads toward the 2027 presidential elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is intensifying cross-party negotiations, allegedly offering enticing political deals to opposition governors and stakeholders.
According to The PUNCH, offers include ministerial slots, return tickets, influence over successor choices, and National Assembly nominations.
These developments have sparked tensions in the camps of leading opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and others in the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP.
Atiku has warned against supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid, labeling it a recipe for continued failure.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Vice Presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa have already joined the APC, while Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno is reportedly set to follow.
Former Akwa Ibom governor Udom Emmanuel confirmed Eno’s quiet defection, saying it was influenced by fear of losing in 2027 due to federal pressure.
A source at the last PDP governors and ex-governors meeting in Abuja, said, “When Udom was speaking, he was asked about the Akwa Ibom State Governor, and he confirmed that the governor had left the PDP.
He said the serving and former governors should proceed with their plans without Eno. He confirmed that the Akwa Ibom State governor had joined the APC out of fear of losing the 2027 election due to federal influence.
“Udom stated that Eno will make his departure official soon, but he himself will not leave the PDP.”
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri is also being wooed, with sources claiming he was offered significant political leverage during a closed-door meeting with NSA Nuhu Ribadu.
Although official details of the meeting remain undisclosed, the move is seen as part of a broader strategy to weaken Atiku’s influence in the region.
When contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the Adamawa State Governor, Wonosikou Humwashi, on the agenda of the meeting, he said, “I can’t say anything about the meeting, because I was not part of the meeting; it was a closed-door meeting, so I cannot say what exactly happened at the meeting.”
Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo (APGA) has publicly backed Tinubu’s second term ambition, joining a growing list of non-APC politicians signaling alignment with the ruling party.
Defections have also hit the National Assembly, where the APC has strengthened its foothold.
At the start of the 10th Assembly, APC held 59 Senate and 175 House seats, but recent shifts are increasing its dominance.
Despite APC denials, opposition parties accuse the ruling party of using state power to engineer defections.
However, APC maintains it is simply attracting willing defectors through performance and openness.
