PDP, ADC, and LP has slammed APC over Abba Yusuf’s defection and stated that the move won’t shift 2027 electoral reality.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party (LP) have criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling party, insisting the move will not alter the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the defection, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, and his ADC counterpart, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the governor’s decision as a reflection of moral failure rather than political strength, arguing that elite defections driven by self-interest would not translate into votes for the APC.
Similarly, the LP Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, warned against equating high-profile defections with popular support, stressing that opposition parties would remain relevant and competitive in 2027.
The APC, however, welcomed the development. Its Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described Yusuf’s defection as a boost for the ruling party and a validation of its commitment to delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
Governor Yusuf announced his resignation from the NNPP after weeks of speculation and political tension in Kano State, despite his long-standing association with the Kwankwasiyya Movement led by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The defection comes amid a broader wave of defections to the APC, including several PDP governors and other political heavyweights at both federal and state levels. President Bola Tinubu and APC leaders have repeatedly denied allegations that the ruling party is working toward a one-party state.
In a strongly worded statement, the NNPP condemned Yusuf’s decision, describing it as a betrayal of the Kano electorate and the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The party dismissed claims of an internal crisis, citing recent congresses and electoral victories supervised by INEC.
Despite the backlash, Yusuf is expected to formally register as an APC member in Kano, alongside lawmakers and local government chairmen, and to inaugurate the party’s e-registration exercise in the state.
Opposition leaders maintained that electoral outcomes are determined by voters, not defections, and predicted that the APC would still face stiff resistance in 2027. The APC, on its part, dismissed the criticism as speculative, insisting that growing membership reflects public acceptance of its policies and leadership.