By Victor Itodo Abuh
IN A YEAR marked by shifting political allegiances and calculated power moves, Nigeria’s political space has seen an undeniable trend: the rising tide of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. From National Assembly members to party stalwarts at the state level, 2025 has become a defining year for political realignments — all seemingly converging on one destination: the APC.
A Pattern Emerges: The Federal Front
At the national level, one of the most high-profile defections came from Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District. His February switch from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC sent shockwaves through Delta politics.
“I did not defect for the purpose of elections,” Nwoko told Journalists, clarifying that his decision stemmed from a “desire for good governance and a party that prioritizes national welfare.” His defection marked a symbolic shift — one that hinted at broader changes on the horizon.
These defections are not mere footnotes in Nigeria’s political calendar. They represent a broader pattern — one of strategic alignment with power and calculated political survival. President Tinubu’s grip on national politics appears to be tightening, with the APC morphing into a magnet for disillusioned politicians from across the spectrum.
In March, the House of Representatives saw two more PDP lawmakers, Hon. Hussaini Jallo (Kaduna State) and Hon. Adamu Tanko (Niger State), cross over to the APC. The lawmakers cited persistent internal crises within the PDP.
According to reports, their decision reflected a growing loss of faith in the party’s ability to self-regulate and chart a coherent path forward.
States in Flux: The Edo and Delta Shifts
The state-level defections have been no less dramatic. In Edo State, four lawmakers jumped ship from the PDP and Labour Party to the APC in March. These include Hon. Donald Okugbe, Hon. Bright Iyamu, Hon. Richard Edosa and Hon. Sunday Ojiezele.
Their switch flipped the power balance in the state assembly, handing the APC an edge as the state prepares for upcoming elections. “The divisions within our former parties made it impossible to serve our constituencies effectively,” one of the defectors was quoted as saying by Vanguard.
Perhaps the most seismic political shift so far in 2025 came from Delta State itself, where Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his immediate predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa — who was also Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election — defected to the APC in April. After months of speculation and initial denials, the two political heavyweights, along with key PDP structures in Delta, formally crossed over to the ruling party.
Confirming the move, Governor Oborevwori’s spokesperson, Festus Ahon, described the decision as one rooted in “extensive consultations with political stakeholders” and framed it as being in the “interest of Delta’s long-term development,” according to New Telegraph.
This mass defection effectively flipped Delta into an APC-controlled state, a strategic win for President Tinubu ahead of 2027. Interestingly, earlier in the year, former Deputy Senate President and APC leader in Delta, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, had openly rejected the idea of Oborevwori and Okowa joining the APC, insisting they should “remain in PDP and rebuild their party.” Nevertheless, political expediency appeared to prevail, signaling a broader strategy of consolidation by the APC across Nigeria’s South-South region.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, a more extensive defection appears to be brewing. Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege recently claimed that 10 PDP lawmakers in the Delta State House of Assembly were “set to join the APC.” In his words, “This movement is inspired by the visible progress and economic reform strategies of President Tinubu,” as reported by Naija News.
The SDP Implosion: A Party’s Collapse?
One of the year’s most striking political developments has been the near-collapse of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kano State, In March, Engr. Yusuf Buhari, the 2023 SDP vice presidential candidate and Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa, the party’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, led a mass exodus to the APC.
They weren’t alone. Along with them came:
– The entire Kano State Working Committee of the SDP
– 38 local government chairmen and their secretaries
– 13 former state assembly candidates
– 6 former House of Representatives candidates
“Our confidence in the APC’s leadership is anchored in President Tinubu’s bold economic policies and governance reforms,” said Gwagwarwa during a press briefing.
Political analysts see this move as a death knell for the SDP’s relevance in Kano, a state long considered a battleground in Northern politics.
What Does It All Mean?
These defections are not mere footnotes in Nigeria’s political calendar. They represent a broader pattern — one of strategic alignment with power and calculated political survival. President Tinubu’s grip on national politics appears to be tightening, with the APC morphing into a magnet for disillusioned politicians from across the spectrum.
Political analyst, Prof. Nkem Adebayo, notes: “This isn’t just about ideology. It’s about access to power, survival and influence in a highly competitive political arena. Tinubu is consolidating and others are reading the terrain.”
While critics argue that these defections weaken democratic accountability and entrench one-party dominance, proponents claim they are a sign of national unity and political cohesion under a strong central government.
Either way, 2025 is shaping up to be the year the APC solidified its status not just as Nigeria’s ruling party — but as the party most politicians can’t afford to ignore.
