Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has projected a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the build-up to the 2027 general elections, downplaying claims of political persecution and declaring the ruling party’s readiness for the opposition.
Appearing on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, the governor emphasized that the APC is not taking the emerging opposition lightly particularly after the formation of a new coalition bloc under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Yes, we have discussed,” Sule said when asked if APC governors had evaluated the threat posed by the new coalition.
“And it is not something, actually, that I will disclose here. You know, as they are planning, we are planning. We are in politics. We’re not just sitting down watching them plan. So as they plan, we plan. And at the end of the day, the better plans will take over.”
The governor noted that several defections to the APC are already underway, including from among opposition governors and lawmakers.
“We keep getting more and more governors from the PDP joining us. Very soon, you will hear another governor joining us. You hear every day about senators decamping and coming back to the APC. Every day. These are all part of the plans—they’re not happening just by magic,” he said.
Governor Sule’s remarks come shortly after a major political event held on July 2 at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where opposition leaders across various parties rallied behind the ADC as a unified platform to challenge the APC’s dominance in 2027.
At that gathering, former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were named interim chairman and secretary of the coalition.
The event also featured key political figures such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Ireti Kingibe, Dele Momodu, Emeka Ihedioha, and Dino Melaye, signaling a serious push to consolidate forces ahead of the next election cycle.
However, some within the ADC have alleged that fear of persecution by the APC government is discouraging certain politicians from joining the coalition. Governor Sule dismissed that suggestion outright.
“I don’t underrate anybody, but the bottom line is, they must find something else to say. Jonathan’s era is completely different from this era. We didn’t see what we’re seeing now during Jonathan’s time. We didn’t go through the challenges we’re facing now during his time,” he said.
He also cast doubt on the strength and cohesion of the opposition alliance compared to the diverse and broad-based merger that birthed the APC.
“The calibre of people that came together to form the APC—ANPP, APGA, ACN, CPC, and even the new PDP—is not the same kind of thing you’re seeing in this new opposition,” Sule concluded.
