As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections approach, the opposition’s hopes of forming a united front to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) are being shaken by a wave of defections. The ongoing defections from opposition parties to the ruling APC are altering the political landscape in favour of the ruling party.
According to The Punch, it was reported that despite widespread complaints about the hardship caused by President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, the APC continues to attract key opposition figures.
Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a leader of the anti-Tinubu group, stated that the defections, particularly by leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), do not pose a threat to the group’s objectives.
Lawal emphasized that the group was working to form a coalition that does not involve the PDP, adding that the party was not a factor in their plans, aspirations, or goals. He further remarked that the PDP had an “incurable virus” and that the defections were expected.
While he acknowledged that the APC was made up of Nigerians, he clarified that his group understood its strategies and was not concerned about the defections. Lawal reiterated that every Nigerian had the right to join any political party, and while they did not begrudge those joining the APC, they were not worried or bothered by it. None of the defectors had ever been considered significant in their plans.
Further talking, he said, “In 2023, Okowa was the PDP vice-presidential candidate, yet Peter Obi won his state. So, what value are they subtracting from the coalition if people who couldn’t deliver their states decide to move to another party? I have no concerns about who joins the coalition and who doesn’t. We know the principal actors. Those with the capacity to defeat the APC in 2027 are the ones driving our project. The masses are with us.”
