The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is in talks with at least five state governors who may soon join the party to support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC’s National Vice Chairman for the South-East, revealed this during an interview with The Punch, saying the governors’ defections were not just rumours but were “imminent.”
“We are talking about governors from Bayelsa, Rivers, Plateau, Kano, and either Abia or Enugu. In the next two months, you will see them join us officially,” Arodiogbu said.
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This comes just days after the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and a series of high-profile defections that have shaken the opposition.
In recent months, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno joined the APC, along with lawmakers and the entire PDP structure in the state. Earlier in April, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP’s former vice-presidential candidate, also moved to the ruling party.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, although still in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has publicly shown support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid. This has fueled speculations of a wider political deal, which the APC has denied.
“There is no arrangement to back Soludo. President Tinubu has not endorsed him. After he visited Anambra, we presented our candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, to the President. He told us to go and win the state,” Arodiogbu stated.
Arodiogbu criticised Soludo’s leadership style, claiming he had lost popularity. “Soludo is no longer popular. He has spent two years fighting traditional rulers, church leaders, and market unions. Now, he’s scrambling for endorsements from those same people.”
He added that Ukachukwu has more political experience. “Soludo wasn’t even known in politics when Ukachukwu was already winning elections. We are confident Anambra will go APC in 2027.”
Arodiogbu also mentioned that the party is in talks with leaders in Bayelsa and Rivers states. However, he was less certain about Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
“I can’t give a definitive answer on Adeleke, but I know he has made moves,” he said.
However, sources within Osun APC say many members are against Adeleke joining the party. “There are strong interests in Osun APC who are not open to Adeleke joining. Otherwise, he would have done so already,” one insider told The Punch.
The situation is complicated by the ambitions of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru — both of whom are believed to be eyeing the 2026 governorship race.
When contacted, Basiru refused to confirm or deny the rumour.
Despite growing talks of a mega opposition alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, Arodiogbu dismissed it as “a media stunt.”
“These politicians just want to keep their names in the headlines. But Nigerians are aligning with a party that is delivering — and that is the APC,” he said.