APC Edges Toward PDP’s 2003 Record Amid Growing Governor Defections

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 thirty of Nigeria’s thirty-six states.

According to reports, Mutfwang officially resigned from the PDP in a letter dated December 29, 2025. However, the move 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 record achieved by the PDP during the national elections in 2003.

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 fears about power concentration and a potential slide toward one-party domination.

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

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

Additionally, 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 thought to be a key factor.

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

Although he has not yet finished the symbolic process of obtaining his membership card, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has already announced a date for his defection to the APC and resigned from the PDP. Due to a national emergency, his formal reception into the party was first delayed, but it is now scheduled for later this month.

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

Plateau Governor Mutfwang reportedly defected just two weeks after Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the APC, openly declared his intention to join the ruling party.

Although some APC leaders in Plateau State reportedly opposed the decision, party sources claimed 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” guided his choice in a resignation letter submitted to the PDP ward chairman of Ampang West Ward, Mangu Local Government Area.

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

The governor stated that joining the APC would help expedite progress and provide real benefits of democracy, and that it was in accordance with Plateau State’s and the federal government’s development goals.

Gyang Bere, the governor’s director of press and public affairs, said in a statement on Tuesday that the governor is 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 Victoria Gowon Hall, Government House, Rayfield, at 11 a.m. today.

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

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

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

The ideologies of Nigeria’s political parties are generally similar, making switching between them easy. Sadly, this jeopardizes the checks and balances necessary for democracy.

He cautioned that accountability could be weakened by an excessive concentration of authority among the legislative, executive, and state administrations.

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

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

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

“Even though a multi-party system is guaranteed by the Constitution, defections have been made easier by the lack of unity within opposition parties, especially among governors looking for reelection or political relevance before 2027,” he told Daily Trust.

He claims that the tendency runs the risk of alienating voters and strengthening the idea that politics is more about self-interest than public service.

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

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

Don: The Opposition Has to Fix Its House
Dr. Edun Abdulkareem, Head of Political Science at the University of Ilorin, contended that the APC had not violated democratic principles.

He stated, “Lobbying or convincing politicians to join a party is a part of politics and is not intrinsically anti-democratic.”

Instead of criticizing the ruling party for defections, he recommended that opposition groups concentrate on bolstering their own unity.

There have been claims of direct or indirect pressure on governors to change allegiance. In reference to the governor of Bauchi State’s recent assertions, he stated, “Citizens should watch how these dynamics unfold.”

Abdulkareem went on to say that a serious danger to democracy was the lack of a strong opposition.

“A robust opposition is essential to maintaining democracy. Without it, citizens have few ways to demand accountability and policymaking is not scrutinized, he said.

The APC’s ascent from 20 governors following the 2023 elections to a possible 30 by early 2026, according to analysts, demonstrates the party’s 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 houses of the National Assembly.

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

Although 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 rejected any intention to weaken democracy, maintaining that political recruitment and persuasion are still acceptable aspects of a competitive political system.