Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office in May 2023, Nigeria’s political terrain has undergone a dramatic shift, as more than 140 elected politicians have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—all without a single national election being held.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The mass defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were disclosed in a statement issued Saturday by Bamidele Atoyebi, Convener of the BAT Ideological Group, a policy think tank focused on accountability and governance. Atoyebi, a social worker and criminologist, made the remarks from Abuja.

He described the wave of defections—spanning governors, senators, federal and state lawmakers, and local government officials—as a clear reflection of President Tinubu’s growing political influence, governance performance, and inclusive leadership style.

Citing specific examples, the statement highlighted the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who was originally elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the APC in April 2025. He was joined by Speaker Emomotimi Guwor and 21 members of the Delta State House of Assembly. Six PDP members of the House of Representatives from the state also switched allegiance, citing alignment with President Tinubu’s national development agenda.

A similar shift occurred in Edo State following the APC’s victory in the 2024 governorship election. Speaker Blessing Agbebaku, two other PDP lawmakers, and 17 local government chairmen defected to the APC. Prior to that, two council chairmen and several councillors had already crossed over.

In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno’s defection to the APC in June 2025 triggered a chain reaction, including the movement of 24 state legislators. Additionally, two senators—Ekong Sampson and Aniekan Bassey—and several federal lawmakers had earlier joined the ruling party, further entrenching APC’s influence in the state.

According to the statement, the defections have also reshaped the National Assembly. In the Senate, APC’s membership increased from 59 to 69, with high-profile entrants such as Ned Nwoko (Delta North), Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), and several senators from Kebbi and Akwa Ibom.

In the House of Representatives, 30 lawmakers have joined the APC under Tinubu’s tenure. Beyond the Delta contingent, new members have come from states including Enugu, Katsina, Kano, Osun, Plateau, Kogi, Abia, and Zamfara. A group of Labour Party legislators also defected, citing internal party crises and expressing support for President Tinubu’s leadership.

In Rivers State, 27 PDP members of the State House of Assembly defected to the APC in December 2023—a move that remains subject to ongoing legal contestation but is politically momentous.

Atoyebi attributed the trend to President Tinubu’s economic reforms, financial decentralisation, inclusive appointments, and pragmatic governance, which he said are catalyzing a broad-based political realignment.

“Governors and lawmakers aren’t just aligning for political survival—they’re aligning for impact. Many are seeing better funding and greater autonomy at both state and local levels as a direct result of the president’s policies,” he said.

While some critics view the wave of defections as potentially harmful to democratic plurality, Atoyebi argued that it is actually a sign of effective leadership. “These are not coerced defections. These politicians are moving toward a government that is delivering results.”

He further noted that the pace and scale of the defections are unmatched in Nigeria’s democratic history. “Not even under Obasanjo, Jonathan, or Buhari did we see this volume of political crossovers within such a short time. President Tinubu has achieved this in under two years.”

With the 2027 general election on the horizon, Atoyebi concluded that the message is becoming unmistakably clear: “Nigeria is consolidating around a president who is bold, decisive, and delivering results.”