A serving governor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is reportedly planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing unexpected resistance from members of the ruling party in his state.
Sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that although party leaders in Abuja appeared open to discussions about the governor’s possible entry into the APC, grassroots leaders and party stakeholders in the state have insisted on strict conditions before any agreement can be reached.
According to insiders, the local APC leadership believes the party has grown strong enough to win the state in the 2027 elections with or without the governor’s support. As a result, they are unwilling to grant him automatic influence within the party structure.
Among the key conditions reportedly placed before the governor is that he would not automatically become the leader of the party in the state after defecting. In addition, he would not be allowed to handpick his successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Party insiders also insisted that members of the governor’s political camp would not receive any special treatment during party primaries, stressing that every aspirant must compete on equal terms with existing APC members.
The tough stance has reportedly thrown the governor’s camp into a serious dilemma. Some of his loyalists are said to be advising him to reconsider the defection plan, warning that the move could weaken his political influence if the conditions remain unchanged.
The development comes amid a wave of defections that has significantly weakened the PDP since the 2023 general elections. Reports indicate that the opposition party has already lost control of about 13 states due to defections, including Zamfara, Plateau, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba, and Enugu. Osun State is also said to have shifted to the Accord Party.
If the governor eventually defects, the PDP could be left with only one sitting governor across the country, marking a dramatic decline in the party’s political strength.
Political observers say the situation reflects a new reality in Nigeria’s political landscape, where defecting politicians may no longer receive automatic control or privileges in their new parties.
For this governor, the path to the APC may come at a steep cost — potentially sacrificing the very influence he hoped to preserve.
