Politics
Mass Defections Of Governors To APC A Shame — NNPP Publicity Secretary
The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, has described the mass defections of governors and political figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as “a shame and a pity.”
Johnson, who spoke in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, said the motivations behind the defections remain unclear.
“I think that the governors will know individually the reasons why they are fawning over the president or over the APC. Some have moved from the PDP and what have you. I’m not so sure it’s about good governance or about the country. It’s such a shame and a pity.
“But I hope that, at the end of the day, it’s only the people who can decide what would happen. Notwithstanding that you have 36 states and governors, something else might happen. It’s not over until it’s over. We are just entering the election year, and the elections will be held next year,” he said.
Johnson’s comments follow a wave of defections in 2025 from governors and political figures elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rumoured defection the only governor elected on the platform of the NNPP, Abba Yusuf of Kano State.
Several governors have recently changed party affiliations. Governors who defected from PDP to APC are Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his deputy, Monday Onyeme, also joined the APC.
Plateau State governor Caleb Mutfwang is the latest to defect from the PDP to the APC. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke resigned from the PDP but defected to the Accord Party.
The governor received the card, marked 001, at a ceremony held at the Government House in Jos.
The defections have largely affected South-South states, including Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River, and Edo, although Edo and Cross River already have APC governors.
The NNPP is currently grappling with an internal crisis, centred on its stronghold of Kano State, where reports suggest Governor Abba Yusuf may defect to the APC in early January 2026.
The National Publicity Secretary, on the political show, also addressed rumours of internal defections from the party’s Kwankwasiyya movement.
“The governor hasn’t said anything to the National Working Committee or the National Executive Committee. Indeed, he (Governor Yusuf) was at the convention we held two weeks ago. But one of his aides said clearly that the people of Kano had agreed that (Rabiu) Kwankwaso and the governor should move to the APC.
“Of course, Senator Kwankwaso hasn’t agreed to such; he hasn’t told anyone, and he hasn’t permitted anyone in his group to move to the APC or any party for that matter. We’ve seen certain things occurring in the state, and it’s become very troubling and disturbing because we are a big, happy family. This is very unfortunate,” Johnson said.
He noted that the tensions should not have arisen with the general election just a year away and warned that moving to the APC would not guarantee political success.
“To the best of their knowledge, they think they’ve made the right move. Even if they move, what guarantees do they have that he (Governor Yusuf) will get the nomination in an APC where Barau, the Deputy Senate President, wants to contest governorship, and where Ganduje’s faction also has aspirants?
“He will be joining as a weakened person because the Kwankwasiyya movement as a whole will not be moving with him.”
On Friday, the NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved all party executive committees in Kano State, from the state to ward level.
Its National Publicity Secretary said the move was in line with the party’s constitution, with caretaker committees to manage affairs temporarily.
The decision follows reports that Governor Yusuf may defect to the APC, a move strongly opposed by party leader Kwankwaso.
Speaking publicly, Kwankwaso warned that “betrayal never pays,” noting that politicians who abandon the movement historically fail to maintain political relevance.
The crisis deepened after the Kano State High Court affirmed the suspension of the party’s state chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, pending a suit alleging division and denigration of Governor Yusuf. The NNPP subsequently appointed Abdullahi Abiya as Acting State Chairman, a move endorsed by the party’s legal team.
Once dominant in Kano through its “red cap” ideology, the NNPP now faces national challenges, holding only one Senate seat amid defections.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed confidence that the collaboration between the party and the Obidient Movement will dislodge the All Progressives Congress from power in 2027.
Odigie-Oyegun, a former National Chairman of the APC, spoke on Monday in Benin during the mass defection of members of the Obidient Movement into the ADC in Edo State.
The development comes weeks after former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, formally joined the ADC.
Welcoming the Obidient Movement on Monday, Odigie-Oyegun said the influx of the Obidient Movement into the party signalled the readiness of Nigerians, particularly the youth, to engage in the struggle for a leadership change and national rebirth.
According to him, the calibre of individuals joining the ADC reinforces the belief that a new Nigeria is achievable.
“A new Nigeria is truly possible,” Odigie-Oyegun said.
“A few days ago, I was in a hall when a colourful and important personality, Dele Momodu, joined us. Today is the first time I am seeing youths who are genuinely committed to nation-building. It is also my first time meeting members of the Obidient Movement in this number, and we are convinced that the youth of this country are ready.”
He described the decision of the Obidient Movement to join the ADC as a deliberate choice to take ownership of the struggle for change.
“You have decided to take up the struggle yourselves by joining the ADC, and I am happy. From the day this coalition came together, I was convinced that we are on the right path,” he said.
Odigie-Oyegun said dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in the country and Edo State should serve as motivation for collective action.
“We have one target: we have a country to save. We must ensure that through the ADC, we make a new Nigeria possible,” he added.
Also speaking, the Edo State Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Asemota Idiogbe, said the ADC provided the most viable platform to challenge the APC both in Edo State and at the national level.
“This is the right party to battle the APC in Edo and Nigeria. ADC will take over Edo and the country,” he said.
Idiogbe expressed optimism that the party would field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and eventually produce the next president.
“We expect Peter Obi to be the President. We are here to strengthen the party, not to ask for positions. We will influence the masses to vote for the ADC. The party is for people who want a better Nigeria,” he said.
He added that leaders of the Obidient Movement were instrumental in building the Labour Party, but insisted that the movement had now fully merged into the ADC.
“We are self-funded. We do not share money to mobilise people. Some of those who won on our platform betrayed us and joined the APC,” he said.
The Edo State Chairman of the ADC, Kenneth Odion, welcomed the Obidient Movement into the party, saying the development positioned the ADC for strong electoral performance in future elections.
The State Woman Leader, Faith Ebodaghe, described the ADC as a rescue platform, urging women to play an active role in the political struggle.
“The ADC is on a rescue mission. We are the David sent to confront Goliath. With our voter cards, we will bring down the APC,” she said.
“The pain is enough. When we deliver, the pain will be no more. Women must be ready to fly and change the narrative.”
The Obidient Movement played a key role in Peter Obi’s strong showing in the 2023 presidential election, where he finished third behind President Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced March 11, 2026, as the official commencement date for political campaigns ahead of forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
The Osun INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, disclosed this while responding to questions from journalists during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Commission to mark the start of the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in Osogbo on Monday.
According to Agboke, the campaign timeline would be formally communicated to political actors in line with existing Electoral Act and guidelines.
“By God’s grace, full campaign activities will commence on March 11, 2026. We will still meet with stakeholders, especially political parties, to brief them appropriately,” he said.
He explained that the Commission would outline campaign protocols to guide political parties throughout the process.
“We are going to roll out the protocols and conduct of political parties in line with the Electoral Act, as the relevant sections are there to guide everyone,” Agboke stated.
The Osun INEC boss emphasised the need for collective responsibility in achieving credible electoral processes in the state.
Reflecting on previous engagements, Agboke said collaboration played a major role in the success of the first phase of the CVR.
“We want cooperation, understanding and proper togetherness in the execution of INEC activities. The first phase was successful because INEC and stakeholders came together beforehand to identify grey areas,” he said.
He noted that a similar approach was being adopted for the second phase in order to consolidate earlier gains.
“As we commence the second phase of the CVR, we believe building on the progress already made will lead to another success,” he said.
Agboke also revealed plans to rotate registration equipment across communities to improve access for prospective voters.
“Now we are going to start rotation of the CVR, where the IVES will be taken to communities for the registrants to participate.
“The stakeholders agreed with us on this assuring that they will participate and they have also shown their readiness to cooperate and ensure the success of the exercise,” he concluded.
The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Felix Morka, has said that at the right time, the party would reveal its position regarding the impeachment move against Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and the political crisis in the state.
Morka assured that APC is not disengaged from the political crisis in the state.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had initiated an impeachment process against Fubara over misappropriation of funds and other allegations.
Fubara’s impeachment is an offshoot of the struggle for political control between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in the state.
However, in an interview on TVC’s Beyond Headlines, Morka said: “The fact that I’m not willing to make a comment on your show does not mean that the APC is disengaged in Rivers State.
“We are a political party, and a responsible party at that. Our job is to govern our party maturely. When it’s time to share our positions or decisions on discussions, be rest assured that I will come here and share it boldly.
“But you know there are processes that must be enabled to do their job so that at the end of the day, we call it right.”
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