Nigeria’s political landscape is undergoing a dramatic realignment as fresh indications point to an imminent defection of at least four governors from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among the governors reportedly preparing to jump ship are Enugu State’s Peter Mbah and Bayelsa’s Duoye Diri. Two others, one from the North-East (Taraba) and another from the North-West, are also said to be finalising their move.
The latest wave of defections was hinted at on Wednesday by former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad, who wrote on X that “in a matter of days, the Governor of Taraba State and another from the North-West will officially join our great party, the APC.” Inside the Power Play According to Vanguard, Governor Mbah has already secured the approval of key political stakeholders in Enugu to defect.
The reported mass movement includes: 24 members of the State House of Assembly 260 councillors Members of the PDP State Executive Committee Sources close to the governor say the final decision is no longer in doubt.
“The governor will land in APC. It’s a done deal — only the date of the formal declaration remains,” a senior aide told journalists. Frustration over PDP’s internal wrangling and the alleged marginalisation of the South-East — particularly the party’s refusal to ratify Sunday Udeh-Okoye as national secretary — is believed to have fuelled Mbah’s exit plan.
In Bayelsa, Governor Diri’s defection move appears to be more contentious. While he is said to have consulted former President Goodluck Jonathan and secured the backing of a majority in the State House of Assembly, several National Assembly members — including former governor Seriake Dickson — have reportedly rejected the move.
APC Clears the Path In what observers see as part of the grand strategy, the APC’s National Working Committee on Thursday dissolved the Enugu State Working Committee and installed a caretaker leadership. Party chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda hailed the developments as “political evangelism that will reshape the South-East.”
Analysts believe the coordinated defections form part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s wider plan to solidify APC dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Should the moves materialise, the PDP would lose significant ground across three key regions — the South-East, South-South, and North-East.
What the Defections Mean If confirmed, the exit of Mbah, Diri and two northern governors would represent one of the most significant political shakeups since the 2014 pre-election realignments that brought APC to power. With the ruling party already controlling a majority of states, the defection of four additional governors would:
Collapse PDP’s influence in multiple zones Strengthen APC’s bargaining power in the National Assembly
Set the tone for a one-party dominated election cycle in 2027
