The All Progressives Congress (APC) is edging closer to controlling as many as 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states following the defection of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and indications that Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, may soon dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the nation’s ruling party.
Naijaonpoint reports that Mutfwang formally resigned from the PDP in a letter dated December 29, 2025, though the move was made public on Thursday, January 1, 2026, paving the way for his registration with the APC, expected to be completed today.
Once finalised, his defection will raise the number of APC governors to 28, equalling the record earlier set by the PDP after the 2003 general elections.
However, unlike the PDP’s post-2003 expansion, the APC’s growth, from 20 governors after the 2023 elections, has been driven largely by defections from opposition parties, sparking concerns over power concentration and a possible slide towards one-party dominance.
Kano, Zamfara, Abia Next?
Speculations are that Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has hinted that his registration with the APC is imminent.
If he defects, Naijaonpoint understands that the ruling party would control 29 states.
There are also reports that first-term governors such as Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State (PDP) and Alex Otti of Abia State (Labour Party) are weighing their political options, with the APC believed to be a major consideration.
Should they eventually cross over, the party’s control could exceed 30 states.
In Taraba State, Governor Agbu Kefas has already resigned from the PDP and announced a date for his defection to the APC, though he is yet to complete the symbolic process of picking up his membership card. His formal reception into the party, initially postponed due to a national emergency, is now expected later this month.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who defected from the PDP to the Accord Party last month, was also said to have explored a move to the APC but was reportedly blocked due to local political dynamics within the party.
Naijaonpoint reports that Plateau Governor Mutfwang’s defection comes barely two weeks after the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, publicly announced his impending move to the ruling party.
Although the decision reportedly faced resistance from some APC leaders in Plateau State, party sources said the opposition was resolved following interventions from the Presidency, clearing the path for the governor’s transition.
In his resignation letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman of Ampang West Ward, Mangu Local Government Area, Mutfwang said his decision was informed by the need for “purposeful leadership, clarity of direction, and effective service delivery.”
He thanked the PDP for providing him a platform to pursue his political aspirations and expressed appreciation to party members and supporters for their loyalty.
The governor described his move to the APC as being in line with the development objectives of Plateau State and the Federal Government, noting that it would help accelerate growth and deliver tangible dividends of democracy.
In a statement on Tuesday, his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, said the governor remained committed to “inclusive governance, unity and breaking barriers of division” as essential tools for achieving sustainable development.
Mutfwang is expected to receive his APC membership card at 11 am today at the Victoria Gowon Hall, Government House, Rayfield, before proceeding to the APC State Secretariat at Kalwa House, Yakubu Gowon Way, Jos, to meet with party leaders and members.
Political analysts say the growing wave of defections into the APC reflects deeper structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s political system.
The National President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, Prof Hassan Saliu, said the trend showed that Nigerian politics was driven more by personal interests and power retention than ideology.
“You cannot separate the defection of governors to the ruling party from the nature of Nigerian politics,” Saliu told Daily Trust in an interview.
“Political parties in Nigeria are largely indistinct in ideology, making movement from one party to another seamless. Unfortunately, this threatens the checks and balances essential for democracy.”
He warned that excessive power concentration across the executive, legislature and state governments could weaken accountability.
“If a ruling party controls the presidency, National Assembly, governors and even local governments, policies may be pursued without opposition oversight,” he added.
Saliu also expressed fears that voter apathy could worsen if Nigerians begin to view the system as effectively one-party dominated.
A political scientist at the University of Ilorin, Prof Gbade Ojo, said Nigeria appeared to be drifting towards an unofficial one-party system.
“While the Constitution guarantees a multi-party system, the lack of internal cohesion in opposition parties has facilitated defections, particularly among governors seeking re-election or political relevance ahead of 2027,” he told Daily Trust.
According to him, the trend risks alienating voters and reinforcing the perception that politics is more about self-interest than public service.
Ojo also warned that the swelling membership of a single party could heighten internal conflicts during primaries.
“What is often presented as consensus is sometimes coercion or manipulation, undermining internal democracy and alienating voters,” he said.
Opposition Must Fix Its House – Don
The Head of Political Science at the University of Ilorin, Dr Edun Abdulkareem, argued that the APC had not breached democratic norms.
“Lobbying or persuading politicians to join a party is part of politics and not inherently anti-democratic,” he said.
He insisted that opposition parties should focus on strengthening their internal cohesion rather than blaming the ruling party for defections.
“We have seen reports where governors were pressured, directly or indirectly, to switch allegiance. Citizens should watch how these dynamics unfold,” he said, referring to recent claims by the Bauchi State governor.
Abdulkareem added that the absence of a credible opposition posed a major threat to democracy.
“A strong opposition is crucial to sustaining democracy. Without it, policymaking lacks scrutiny, and citizens have limited avenues to demand accountability,” he said.
Analysts note that the APC’s rise from 20 governors after the 2023 elections to a potential 30 by early 2026 highlights its rapid consolidation of power nationwide.
Naijaonpoint observe that the party has also secured a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, a development largely attributed to defections from the crisis-hit PDP and the Labour Party.
This dominance has strengthened the APC’s capacity to advance its legislative agenda and align state policies with the Federal Government, giving it unprecedented influence over national politics.
While the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) has emerged as a possible rallying point for opposition forces, concerns persist that continued defections could further weaken oversight and public participation.
The APC, however, has consistently denied any plan to undermine democracy, insisting that persuasion and political recruitment remain legitimate features of a competitive political system.