2027: ADC, NDC Defectors Join APC, Promise 2m Votes For Tinubu

Former candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to mobilise two million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

The defectors, who said they were motivated by national unity and confidence in Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, announced their decision during a reception at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Friday.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, received the new members alongside the party’s National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and other members of the National Working Committee.

Speaking on behalf of one of the delegations, Prof. Murtala Yusuf said the group comprised nine former House of Representatives candidates and three former State House of Assembly candidates who had decided to abandon their individual political ambitions to support the ruling party.

Yusuf maintained that the decision had nothing to do with financial inducements, describing it as a sacrifice for national cohesion and political stability.

“Your Excellency, we are not here for any financial gain. We are not here for any pecuniary interest. We are not here for any monetary consideration. But we are here for the sake of the unity of Nigeria,” he said.

He described the defectors as grassroots politicians with considerable influence in their constituencies, insisting that they were joining the APC out of conviction rather than desperation.

“We are grassroots politicians with strong followership, significant political influence, and credible chances of winning elections in our various constituencies,” Yusuf added.

According to him, the group’s decision reflected a desire to reciprocate the political support Tinubu gave former President Muhammadu Buhari during previous presidential contests.

Yusuf recalled that Buhari contested the presidency three times before winning in 2015, with critical support from political leaders in the South-West, including Tinubu.

“Our decision is informed by history and the need for unity. This is the moment. This is the payback time,” he said.

He argued that political cooperation between the North and South should guide decisions ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that Tinubu deserved the opportunity to complete his constitutionally permitted two terms, subject to the democratic process.

The spokesman acknowledged that the administration’s economic reforms had created difficulties for Nigerians but urged citizens to assess the policies objectively and allow time for their intended benefits to emerge.

“We must not allow political differences to overshadow our collective interest in building a stronger, more prosperous and united Nigeria,” he said.

The defectors subsequently pledged to deploy their grassroots networks and political structures to secure two million valid votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

They urged the APC leadership to convey their commitment to the President, describing the move as a decision that placed national unity above individual political ambitions.

Earlier, the coordinator of the delegation, Princess Aslam Aliyu, said her group had facilitated the entry of 23 opposition candidates into the APC within two weeks.

Aliyu, founder of Baba Tinubu Fisa Bililai 2027, explained that the first group comprised 12 ADC State House of Assembly candidates, while another 11 candidates from the ADC and NDC joined the ruling party during the latest reception.

She described the defections as a demonstration of confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and the direction of the APC, pledging to sustain efforts to mobilise support for his re-election.

However, the African Democratic Congress has previously challenged the identities of some people the APC presented as its former candidates, insisting that they were neither its candidates nor party leaders. The party demanded evidence of their claimed credentials.

Meanwhile, Basiru dismissed suggestions that the APC intended to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, attributing the party’s growing membership to its organisational structure and political activities.

Speaking at the same event, the National Secretary said the APC operated a serious political organisation with experienced administrators, former lawmakers, academics and legal practitioners in its leadership.

He argued that the 2027 election should focus on Nigeria’s development, unity and progress rather than the personal ambitions of individual politicians.

Basiru also defended Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy, insisting that the country should not return to the previous arrangement.

He cited the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the administration’s interventions, claiming that more than 1.4 million students had benefited from the scheme through tuition support and monthly upkeep allowances.

Yilwatda, in his remarks, defended the administration against allegations that it had neglected Northern Nigeria, listing road and rail projects across the region as evidence of federal investment.

Among the projects he cited were the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, Kano-Maiduguri road, Kaduna-Kano railway and Kano-Maradi rail line.

The APC chairman also defended the administration’s economic record, citing payments towards outstanding obligations to foreign investors, international airlines and operators in the power sector.

He criticised opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, over their criticism of the administration’s policies and records in government.

The reception forms part of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, as parties seek to strengthen their structures and attract support across the country.