No Free Tickets in APC: Why Defecting Governors Must Fight for 2027 Tickets and What It Means for Nigeria’s Democracy
In Nigeria’s ever-shifting political landscape, defections have become almost as predictable as election cycles themselves. Governors, lawmakers, and power brokers frequently cross party lines, often citing ideology, national interest, or alignment with the centre as justification. Yet beneath these lofty explanations lies a more uncomfortable question Nigerians increasingly ask: Is defection simply a strategy to secure re-election?
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has now drawn a firm line in the sand. In a move that could significantly reshape calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections, the ruling party has made it clear that there will be no automatic tickets for defecting governors, regardless of their status, political weight, or the timing of their defection.
This position directly affects recently defected governors such as Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, as well as others reportedly weighing a move to the APC, including Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. It also sends a broader signal to Nigeria’s political elite: crossing over to the ruling party is no longer a guaranteed shortcut to electoral survival.
APC Draws the Line: Defection Is Not a Free Pass
A senior member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of internal party discussions, confirmed that defection alone does not confer any special privilege within the party. According to him, the APC’s constitution and internal democratic ethos do not recognise automatic tickets for any aspirant—governor or otherwise.
This position was publicly reinforced by the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, who stressed that the party remains democratic and progressive in character. In his words, every member, old or new, must be allowed to fully enjoy their rights—but also submit themselves to the same competitive process.
The implication is clear: defecting governors must earn their tickets, just like long-standing party members who have spent years building structures at ward, local government, and state levels.
Even Tinubu Has No Automatic Ticket
Perhaps the most striking element of the APC’s stance is its insistence that even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not guaranteed an automatic ticket ahead of 2027.
While the party has passed a vote of confidence in the President—largely in recognition of his leadership and the reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda—APC leaders have been careful to draw a distinction between political endorsement and constitutional entitlement.
According to party officials, the vote of confidence merely signals support if the President chooses to run again. It does not foreclose the possibility of other aspirants indicating interest or contesting in the party’s primaries.
If the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is subject to party processes, the APC argues, no governor can reasonably expect preferential treatment.
Growing Wave of Defections—and Growing Suspicion
The APC has, in recent months, witnessed an influx of high-profile defectors. Among PDP governors who have already crossed over are:
Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom – South-South)
Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta – South-South)
Peter Mbah (Enugu – South-East)
Agbu Kefas (Taraba – North-East)
Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers – South-South)
Beyond governors, several National Assembly members, state legislators, former governors, and ex-ministers have also abandoned the opposition for the ruling party.
Officially, many of these defectors cite President Tinubu’s performance, national unity, or the need to align their states with the federal government. Unofficially, however, a large segment of the Nigerian public remains sceptical.
To many Nigerians, the defections appear less about ideology and more about political survival in a highly centralised system where access to federal power often determines state-level influence.
APC’s Counter-Argument: Performance, Not Fear
Responding to claims that defectors are merely seeking re-election tickets, an APC NWC member pushed back strongly. He argued that it is both unfair and simplistic to reduce the defections to electoral anxiety.
According to him, President Tinubu’s reforms—particularly in fiscal policy, infrastructure, and economic restructuring—have attracted politicians who genuinely believe in the direction of the country.
However, he was quick to add that belief alone is not enough.
> “Their achievements in their respective states will be a major factor. It is party members who will decide who flies the APC flag. No one will be handed a ticket simply because they are a governor or because they defected.”
In essence, the APC is attempting to balance openness with discipline—welcoming new members while refusing to alienate its existing base.
Consensus, But Not Imposition
While rejecting automatic tickets, the APC has not ruled out consensus candidacies where appropriate. Party leaders acknowledge that consensus can help reduce internal conflict, provided it emerges organically and with broad support.
What the party insists it will not tolerate is imposition—a practice that has historically fuelled internal crises across Nigerian parties, including the APC itself.
By emphasising internal democracy, the party appears keen to avoid a repeat of past scenarios where disgruntled aspirants defected after feeling sidelined in primaries.
Opposition Reacts: “Their Regret Has Just Begun”
Unsurprisingly, opposition parties have seized on the development as proof that defecting governors miscalculated.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, described the situation as inevitable, arguing that the governors abandoned the PDP for selfish reasons rather than the interests of their people.
According to him, the APC is not known for prioritising internal equity, and defectors would soon realise that they are treated as outsiders rather than stakeholders.
> “This is only the beginning of their regret. Over time, they will realise that their influence within the party is limited and their expectations of preferential treatment will not be met.”
The NNPP, particularly in Kano State, echoed similar sentiments. Its Publicity Secretary, Oladipo Johnson, claimed that APC often lures politicians with promises that rarely materialise.
He warned that once inside the party, exit options become narrower, leaving defectors politically stranded if internal calculations shift against them.
Kano Factor: A Test Case Waiting to Happen
Kano State looms large as a potential test case. With strong indications that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may defect, questions abound about how he would navigate APC’s internal dynamics, especially in a state with deeply entrenched party structures and rival factions.
If and when the defection happens, Kano could become the clearest demonstration yet that joining the APC is not the same as controlling it.
Bigger Picture: What This Means for Nigerian Democracy
Beyond party politics, the APC’s stance raises broader questions about Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
For years, defections have weakened opposition parties, blurred ideological lines, and fostered voter cynicism. By refusing automatic tickets, the APC may be attempting—whether deliberately or not—to slow the culture of opportunistic cross-carpeting.
If consistently applied, this policy could:
Strengthen internal party democracy
Reduce politically motivated defections
Force governors to prioritise performance over alignment
Restore some confidence in the electoral process
However, critics argue that the real test lies not in rhetoric but in execution. Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether powerful defectors are truly subjected to competitive primaries—or quietly favoured when the stakes rise.
Conclusion: No Shortcuts to 2027
The message from the APC leadership is unmistakable: there are no shortcuts to political power in 2027.
Defecting governors may gain access to the ruling party’s platform, but they will not be handed its ticket on a silver platter. In a system long criticised for transactional politics, this stance—if upheld—could mark a subtle but significant shift.
Whether it strengthens democracy or merely reshuffles internal power remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the era of automatic tickets—at least on paper—is over.
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