APC Closes In on PDP’s 2003 Record as Governors Defect from Opposition

With the defection of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and signs that Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf may soon leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the country’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is getting closer to controlling up to 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

According to reports, Mutfwang formally resigned from the PDP in a letter dated December 29, 2025. However, the decision was made public on Thursday, January 1, 2026, which allowed him to register with the APC, which is anticipated to be finished today.

When his defection is finalized, the APC will have 28 governors, matching the PDP’s previous record established during the 2003 general elections.

But unlike the PDP’s post-2003 development, the APC’s rise from 20 governors following the 2023 elections has been primarily fueled by opposition party defections, raising worries about power concentration and a potential slide toward one-party domination.

Abia, Zamfara, and Kano Next?
There are rumors that Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, has implied that he will soon register with the APC.

It was understood that the ruling party would take control of 29 states if he defected.

First-term governors like Alex Otti of Abia State (Labour Party) and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State (PDP) are reportedly considering their political options, with the APC seen to be a significant factor.

The party may eventually gain power over more than 30 states if they do cross over.

Although he hasn’t finished the symbolic procedure of obtaining his membership card, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has already declared a date for his defection to the APC and resigned from the PDP. Due to a national emergency, his official reception into the party was first delayed, but it is now anticipated to take place later this month.

Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, who switched from the PDP to the Accord Party last month, reportedly considered joining the APC but was prevented because of local political dynamics inside the party.

According to reports, Mutfwang, the governor of the Plateau, defected just two weeks after Nentawe Yilwatda, the national chairman of the APC, officially declared his intention to join the ruling party.

Although some APC leaders in Plateau State reportedly opposed the decision, party sources stated that the opposition was overcome after the presidency intervened, paving the way for the governor’s handover.

Mutfwang stated that the need for “purposeful leadership, clarity of direction, and effective service delivery” influenced his choice in a letter of resignation submitted to the PDP ward chairman of Ampang West Ward, Mangu Local Government Area.

He expressed gratitude to party members and supporters for their allegiance and praised the PDP for giving him a platform to pursue his political goals.

The governor stated that his decision to join the APC would help expedite growth and provide observable benefits of democracy, and that it was consistent with Plateau State’s and the federal government’s development goals.

Gyang Bere, his director of press and public affairs, said in a statement on Tuesday that the governor was still dedicated to “inclusive governance, unity, and breaking barriers of division” as crucial instruments for attaining sustainable development.

Mutfwang is scheduled to meet with party leaders and members at the APC State Secretariat at Kalwa House, Yakubu Gowon Way, Jos, after receiving his APC membership card at 11 a.m. today in the Victoria Gowon Hall, Government House, Rayfield.

According to political observers, Nigeria’s political system has deeper structural flaws, which are reflected in the swelling wave of defections into the APC.

According to Prof. Hassan Saliu, National President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, the tendency demonstrated that power preservation and personal interests were more important in Nigerian politics than philosophy.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Saliu stated, “You cannot separate the defection of governors to the ruling party from the nature of Nigerian politics.”

Because the ideologies of Nigeria’s political parties are so similar, switching between them is easy. Sadly, this puts democracy’s necessary checks and balances at jeopardy.

He cautioned that an overabundance of power concentration among the state, legislative, and executive branches could erode accountability.

“Policies may be pursued without opposition oversight if a ruling party controls the presidency, National Assembly, governors, and even local governments,” he continued.

Saliu also voiced concerns that if Nigerians start to perceive the system as essentially one-party dominated, voter apathy would get worse.

Prof. Gbade Ojo, a political scientist at the University of Ilorin, stated that Nigeria seemed to be moving toward an unofficial one-party system.

He told Daily Trust, “Even though the Constitution guarantees a multi-party system, the lack of internal cohesion in opposition parties has facilitated defections, particularly among governors seeking re-election or political relevance ahead of 2027.”

He claims that the tendency runs the risk of offending people and strengthening the idea that politics is more about personal gain than public service.

Additionally, Ojo cautioned that a single party’s growing membership could exacerbate internal disputes during the primaries.

He stated, “What is frequently presented as consensus is sometimes coercion or manipulation, undermining internal democracy and alienating voters.”

Don: The Opposition Needs to Fix Its House
Dr. Edun Abdulkareem, the head of political science at the University of Ilorin, contended that the APC had not violated democratic principles.

According to him, “persuading politicians to join a party or engaging in lobbying is a part of politics and is not intrinsically anti-democratic.”

Instead of criticizing the incumbent party for defections, he argued that opposition groups should concentrate on bolstering their own unity.

There have been reports of direct or indirect pressure on governors to change their allegiance. Referring to recent assertions made by the governor of Bauchi State, he stated, “Citizens should watch how these dynamics unfold.”

Abdulkareem went on to say that democracy was seriously threatened by the lack of a strong opposition.

“Maintaining democracy requires a robust opposition. Without it, citizens have few ways to demand responsibility and policymaking lacks scrutiny, he said.

The APC’s ascent from 20 governors following the 2023 elections to a possible 30 by early 2026, according to analysts, demonstrates its quick national consolidation of power.

Due in large part to defections from the Labour Party and the crisis-ridden PDP, the party was also able to gain a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly.

The APC now has unparalleled power over national politics thanks to its dominance, which has boosted its ability to push its legislative agenda and harmonize state policies with the federal government.

Even though the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) has become a potential focal point for opposition forces, there are still worries that more defections could erode public engagement and monitoring.

However, the APC has continuously denied any intention to subvert democracy, maintaining that political recruitment and persuasion are still acceptable aspects of a competitive political system.