Defections & Discontent: The Silent Wars Tearing APC’s State Chapters Apart
By NJORIGE LYNUS
BY all appearances, Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is on a winning streak. One by one, governors, lawmakers, and heavyweight politicians from opposition parties are crossing over to the broom-wielding fold — a movement that, to some, looks like a masterstroke ahead of the 2027 general elections.
But beneath the triumphant smiles in Abuja lies a storm quietly gathering in the states. The same defections that strengthen the APC’s national dominance are now threatening to tear its state chapters apart.
A Political Harvest — and a Brewing Headache
In the last few months, five sitting governors — Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) — have either defected to the APC or signaled their intention to do so. Add to that the defection of former vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa and other opposition stalwarts, and it’s clear why many observers say the APC is quietly positioning to face little or no resistance in 2027.
Inside the National Assembly, the migration has become a spectacle — with Senate President Godswill Akpabio hailing defectors as “patriots” drawn to President Bola Tinubu’s “transformational leadership.”
“The defectors,” Akpabio said, “are Mr. President’s children and supporters. They believe in who can run Nigeria and put food on the tables of Nigerians.”
But while the rhetoric sounds noble, analysts see another motive: consolidation of power. For decades, ruling parties in Nigeria have used defections as a political tool to weaken opponents and secure electoral dominance. Tinubu, critics argue, appears to be refining that playbook to near perfection.
When the Broom Sweeps Too Hard
At the state level, however, the influx of new members has sparked bitter turf wars between old APC loyalists and new arrivals. In Delta, Enugu, and Bayelsa, for instance, the party is struggling to contain rival factions and bruised egos.
In Delta State, Governor Oborevwori’s defection — initially hailed as a political coup — has deepened divisions. Party chieftains like Ovie Omo-Agege and Festus Keyamo are locked in a fierce battle for control. Each faction accuses the other of betrayal and imposition.
Before Oborevwori joined, the APC was already fractured into multiple camps. His arrival, rather than healing the wounds, poured salt into them. “As I have come, there will be no faction again. The Governor takes charge,” Oborevwori declared. But his confidence has done little to calm dissent. The Omo-Agege faction boycotted recent party meetings, insisting the governor’s takeover was illegitimate.
A similar drama is unfolding in Enugu, where Governor Peter Mbah’s defection led to the dissolution of the existing party executive, the installation of a caretaker committee, and the resignation of Minister Geoffrey Nnaji. Instead of unity, the defection left the party’s structure in chaos, with court cases looming and loyalties shifting overnight.
Winners and Losers in the Power Game
The Akwa Ibom chapter of the APC appears to be the exception — for now. Observers say Governor Umo Eno avoided conflict by recognizing Senate President Akpabio as the state’s de facto party leader. The move has earned him praise for political maturity and diplomacy.
But in Bayelsa, the situation is far more volatile. Governor Douye Diri’s rumored plan to join the APC has triggered unease among both the old guard led by Timipre Sylva and allies of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has reportedly refused to defect, while grassroots party members fear the return of deep-seated rivalries that once split the state.
Former APC deputy national publicity secretary Yekini Nabena admits tensions are inevitable but sees the situation as an opportunity: “If the governor joins, it will be a plus. But if he tries to oppress the old members, there will be division — and we are ready for that.”
The North’s Quiet Resistance
In the North, things are equally uncertain. In Adamawa, a defection by Governor Fintiri could be seen as a direct challenge to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the state’s political godfather. Similarly, in Plateau State, rumours of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s planned defection to the APC are already raising questions over who will lead the party — the governor or the party’s national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, who ran against him in 2023.
The potential power struggle evokes memories of the bitter rift between Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki in Edo State, which cost the APC the state in 2020.
The Calm Before the Implosion?
While the APC’s national leadership insists that all is well, insiders warn that the growing competition for control between “founders” and “newcomers” could explode before 2027.
Deputy National Organising Secretary Chidi Duru downplays the concerns: “There is no crack anywhere. Where there are differences, we’ll resolve them. We must never mistake disagreement for crisis.”
Still, history offers a warning. The same internal wrangling that toppled the PDP in 2015 could haunt the APC if left unchecked. As one analyst put it, “The broom that sweeps too hard may soon scatter its own bristles.”
For now, the APC may appear to be gathering strength ahead of 2027 — but beneath the cheers of victory and defections lies a more complex story of ambition, rivalry, and survival. The question is not how many politicians the party can recruit — but how many it can keep from tearing the broom apart.
