Rabiu Kwankwaso alleges APC governors joined the party because they believe it offers electoral advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that governors who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were motivated by a belief that alignment with the ruling party could improve their chances in the 2027 general elections.
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Kwankwaso made the claim during an interview with Central TV, where he criticised what he described as a growing disconnect between political leaders and ordinary voters.
The former Kano State governor alleged that some politicians now place more confidence in institutional support than in public backing, claiming that some defecting governors believe the presidency, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would work in their favour.
“It is not only the governor of Kano that is in APC. Almost all the governors are of the opinion that they should join the ruling party because they believe that the presidency will write results for them,” Kwankwaso said.
He added that the development reflected what he described as an unfortunate state of Nigerian politics, where politicians were increasingly focused on political calculations rather than voter support.
“We are in a very unfortunate situation in the country where politicians are not too worried about the voters. They believe that the security and INEC are on their sides,” he said.
“Because of desperation, many governors can do anything now.”
The comments come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with party movements and realignments expected to shape the political landscape before campaigns officially begin.
The APC has continued to attract politicians from opposition parties in recent months, with several elected officials citing reasons such as party unity, development opportunities and stronger political platforms for their decisions.
However, opposition figures have frequently questioned the motivations behind some defections, arguing that political movements towards the ruling party may be driven by electoral calculations rather than ideology.
Kwankwaso, who leads the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) movement and contested the 2023 presidential election, has remained a prominent critic of Nigeria’s political system.
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His latest comments add to ongoing discussions about electoral confidence, institutional independence and the role of political parties ahead of the next general election.
