Shock Twist: Mbah, Adeleke, Alex Otti Halt Defection As Opposition Rethinks APC Move

Governors from opposition parties who were previously speculated to be on the brink of defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have now pulled back, as internal party consolidation efforts intensify and political dynamics begin to shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The initial wave of defections — notably involving Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, all of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — had sparked widespread speculation that more governors from the opposition would soon follow suit.

The APC’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, had confidently predicted that Oborevwori’s defection was merely the beginning of a larger cross-party movement.

However, findings by The PUNCH indicate that several governors, including Peter Mbah (Enugu), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Alex Otti (Abia), have decided against switching parties — at least for now. They cite increased political stability within their respective parties and ideological differences with the APC.

Governors Reaffirm Loyalty

In Enugu, insiders close to Governor Mbah said any prior consideration to defect has faded due to the collapse of the Labour Party’s structure in the state and growing grassroots support for the PDP.

“With the LP’s diminishing relevance and many of its members now joining the PDP, Governor Mbah’s chances for a second term look very strong,” a political aide noted.

In Zamfara, Governor Lawal’s media aide, Mustafa Kaura, dismissed the defection claims, affirming the governor’s continued loyalty to the PDP.

In Plateau, PDP stalwart Dachung Bagos emphasized that ideological differences made defection to the APC an unlikely choice for Governor Mutfwang.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke also shut down defection rumours during a key PDP stakeholders’ meeting, calling the reports “fake news” and affirming his unwavering loyalty to the PDP.

Abia Governor Alex Otti, speaking on Arise TV, said he remained committed to the Labour Party, expressing contentment with the platform under which he was elected. However, he noted that future political decisions would be guided by divine direction.

Opposition Pushes Back Against APC Expansion

The National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, described the defections as acts of political survival, arguing they won’t guarantee APC’s success in 2027 if economic hardship continues.

He stated, “The idea of turning Nigeria into a one-party state is unrealistic. If living conditions don’t improve, Nigerians will reject the APC.”

Labour Party spokesman Obiora Ifoh blamed the defection wave on weak internal party structures and opportunism.

Sonny Adenuga, National Chairman of the Because Of Our Tomorrow Party, offered a sharp critique: “Tinubu appears dominant not because of performance, but due to the PDP’s failure to present a viable alternative.” He predicted that the current climate could birth a new, ideologically grounded political movement before 2027.

Likewise, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, criticized both the PDP and APC for delivering poor governance, warning that Nigeria is drifting toward a binary system of “APC versus SDP.”

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