Defections: Governor’s Influence Overrated, Nigerians Will Decide 2027 Election — ADC
The Spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has downplayed the political significance of the recent wave of defections by state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that electoral victory in 2027 will be determined by voters, not political officeholders.
Abdullahi spoke during an interview on Arise News Channel’s ‘Day Break’ breakfast show on Wednesday.
He described the influence of governors in Nigerian elections as “overrated,” arguing that recent electoral history showed that incumbency and elite backing do not automatically translate into victory at the polls.
“Sometimes the political influence of governors is exaggerated,” he said. “We have seen governors who spent eight years in power return to contest elections in their states and still lose.”
He cited the 2023 general election as evidence, noting that several states delivered results that contradicted expectations despite strong ruling-party structures and sitting governors.
“In 2023, Delta State had a sitting governor who was also a vice-presidential candidate, yet they lost the state. Borno was an APC state and was lost. Even Lagos State, the home state of the current president, was lost,” he said.
According to him, the mass defection of governors to the APC was a deliberate strategy designed to project dominance and discourage opposition supporters.
“The aim is to create fear and resignation, to make Nigerians believe it’s all over and that everyone is now APC,” he said. “But governors may be decamping; the people are not decamping with them.”
He maintained that worsening insecurity, hunger, and economic hardship would shape voter behaviour ahead of 2027 elections, rather than party switches by political elites.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
