Tough Talk: Governors Baulk at APC Flirtations as Elections Approach
Opponents, including Mbah, Adeleke, and Alex Otti, reconsider their plans to defect to the APC as the opposition council ponders a possible shift to the party's ranks.
In the heated political landscape of Nigeria, governors from opposition parties have shown resilience in the face of persistent rumors linking them to a possible switch to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite some high-profile defections, governors like Peter Mbah (Enugu), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Alex Otti (Abia) have kept their feet planted firmly in their parties.
The waves of defection, ignited by the shift of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his deputies, had sparked speculation that more opposition governors would follow suit. The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, even boasted that Oborevwori's defection marked the beginning of a broader exodus across party lines. However, investigations by The PUNCH reveal that these governors are working hard to fortify their political bases and maintain ideological integrity, deterring them from jumping ship.
The Governors Speak Up
In Enugu, close confidants of Governor Mbah say that the initial impetus to defect has faded, thanks to the declining influence of the Labour Party's structure in the state and the resurgence of PDP support. In Zamfara, Governor Lawal flatly dismissed defection rumors through his Special Assistant on Media, Mustafa Kaura, stating emphatically that the governor has no intention of joining any other party.
On the Plateau, PDP chieftain Dachung Bagos confirmed that Governor Mutfwang would not be moving to the APC due to "clear ideological differences." In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke debunked reports of his possible defection during a strategic PDP stakeholders' meeting, declaring firmly, "I am not defecting to APC or any other political party. I remain in PDP." Abia Governor Alex Otti, speaking on Arise TV, reiterated that he had no compelling reason to leave the Labour Party.
APC's One-Party Dream Dismissed
Critics, including the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, and Labour Party's spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, have warned that the wave of defections will not ensure APC's success in 2027 if economic hardship continues. Sonny Adenuga, National Chairman of the Because Of Our Tomorrow Party, has highlighted that Tinubu's perceived political might is not due to performance but rather the failures of PDP to offer a credible alternative.
Adenuga believes that the defections might eventuate in a new, ideologically-driven political force before 2027. Similarly, the SDP's National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, has accused the PDP and APC of delivering poor governance, urging unity among opposition parties to balance the growing dominance of the ruling party.
As the 2027 elections inch closer, it's evident that governors will face pressure to weigh their political loyalties against their personal ambitions and regional political dynamics. The political landscape of Nigeria promises an exciting and unpredictable future as aspiring leaders maneuver for power.
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