Defection: More Governors will join APC ahead of 2027 – Ganduje

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has declared that more governors are on their way to join the party.

This is coming in less than 24 hours after the entire political structure of Delta State defected to the party.

The National Chairman made the remarks at his residence on Thursday in Abuja, while officially receiving key members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Kano State into the party.

The defectors were led by Senator Kawu Sumaila and the immediate past Secretary to the Kano State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi.

Among the new APC entrants are serving and former members of the House of Representatives and the Kano State House of Assembly.

In his excitement, Ganduje expressed optimism that the 2027 general elections are already secured for the ruling party.

Addressing reporters after a closed-door meeting, Ganduje said:
“In APC, we believe in our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we believe in his economic reforms, we believe in his Renewed Hope Agenda and part of the political renewed hope agenda is trying to canvass for more followership into the party.

“We started by democratically electing governors, especially in Edo State, who was in PDP, we contested, we succeeded in winning the election, the state is now in APC.

“Now, there is another channel that has been opened through advocacy, through dialogue, through convincing some highly and even elected governors to come into the party. And you can see what has happened now.

“The governor of Delta State is now in APC, including his cabinet, including all the members of the state assembly and House of Representatives, and the timber and caliber of PDP, now in APC, even including the former vice presidential candidate coming into our party.

“So you can see that we are expanding. I don’t want to reveal our secret, but what I’m telling you is that for APC 2027 is a done deal.”

When asked to confirm speculations about more governors defecting to the APC, Ganduje responded affirmatively, “Yes, more governors are coming into APC, I assure you, and places where we have election, APC Insha Allah will win those elections.”

Senator Sumaila, the leader of the defecting group, pledged loyalty to the APC and assured the leadership of his team’s commitment to the success of the party both in Kano and nationally.

On the implications of their defection, he stated:
“I will refer you to 2023 general election. Go and check the results. I mean the presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives elections, where we contested the same day, the same polling unit with Kwankwaso. That will give you the answer to your question.”

Prominent among the defectors from Kano State are: Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurum (Rano/Kibiya Federal Constituency), Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo, Rt. Hon. Zubairu Hamza Massu (Kano State House of Assembly), Dr. A.B. Baffa Bichi (former SSG), Hon. Mohd Digol, Hon. Abbas S. Abbas, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal (former governorship candidate), Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta, and Hon. Idris Dankuwa.