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.

The Labour Party’s factional National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, has dismissed concerns about recent defections from the party, affirming its resilience and continued relevance.

Speaking with journalists in Kaduna State on Saturday, Usman urged Nigerians not to lose confidence in the LP’s ability to offer a credible alternative to what she called the APC’s “rudderless and visionless” governance.

She emphasized, “The APC has failed Nigerians. The suffering of our people has never been this widespread or this severe.”

Addressing defections including members leaving LP to join the APC, Usman described the move as not only “morally indefensible” but also “legally questionable.” She voiced disappointment over members abandoning the party post-election, saying, “It is disheartening to see people jump ship after securing victory on one party’s platform, only to defect for selfish gain.”

Despite these departures, Usman remained confident about the party’s standing. She explained that the excitement created by the defections had clarified LP’s direction and fortified its internal unity.

She stated: “We made some mistakes in candidate selection, but those lessons have been learned. Going forward, we will be more deliberate in choosing those who genuinely align with our mission of building a new Nigeria.”

At the third plenary session of the Northern Political Consultative Group (NPCG) held in Abuja, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), revealed why no serving governor has officially joined their coalition.

He explained that “no serving governor would be willing to cross over because of the intimidation that they are facing.”

Abdullahi spoke openly about the pressure governors are under, stating, “We know what they are doing to them. Some of them who cannot jump to their party are saying we are endorsing their presidential candidate. No problem. But what you are seeing is a conspiracy against the Nigerian people.”

Despite the pressure, he emphasized that the ADC remains inclusive, declaring, “The ADC welcomes everybody, but we are convinced that we are a movement that has the backing of the majority of Nigerians who are not happy with the direction this country is going.”

On the question of who would represent the ADC in 2027, Abdullahi noted that no candidate selection process has started.

“We don’t have any favourite aspirants or candidates. We are not having any conversation at the moment,” he said.

“Nobody has ever had any conversation about who will be the party’s flag bearer. We believe that it is too early in the day. Our focus now is to build a political party that is strong enough to deliver on the mission that we have set for ourselves.”

Earlier in the session, former SGF Babachir David Lawal reiterated the coalition’s commitment to supporting whichever candidate emerges from ADC’s electoral process.

“The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. We are going to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election. And whoever emerges, be it North, South, Central, West, whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.”

So far, political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi have all expressed interest in contesting the ADC presidential ticket.

Despite that, Abdullahi emphasized, the coalition’s strength lies in its movement and message, not in its current roster of state governors.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will rally behind whomever emerges as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking to journalists after the third expanded session of the National Political Consultative Group (North) at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Lawal said the party remains committed to democratic principles in selecting its standard bearer.

“The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. We are going to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election,” he said.

“And whoever emerges, be it North, South, Central, West, whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.”

The remark comes amid the growing momentum behind the opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which recently adopted the ADC as its political platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming election.

Notable figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi (former Labour Party presidential candidate), Rotimi Amaechi (former Rivers governor), and Nasir El-Rufai (former Kaduna governor), have all shown interest in the ADC ticket.

When asked about the credibility of the electoral process and whether votes would truly matter in 2027, Lawal was emphatic:

“No one in ADC leadership or rank and file believes that votes do not count. Votes do count. And we are going to make sure that votes do count. This election, votes will count.”

“I tell you, forget about this fear that votes will not count. ADC is a party of Nigerians. ADC is one. Whatever techniques, whatever malicious activity they throw at us, we’ll counter it effectively. We will counter and defeat them at it.”

He noted that the session was convened to reflect on and respond to the security and development challenges confronting Northern Nigeria, and to deliberate on how best to prepare for the future.

According to Lawal, the current administration lacks the political will to address these concerns.

“As it is, we are of the opinion that this government has no interest in solving problems confronting the North, be it infrastructure, be it peace, be it security. So we have to take the ball in our hands and work towards achieving solutions to our problems.”