The National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that the large number of political parties in the country creates obstacles for effective democratic governance.
Citing China as an example of unified political leadership driving development, Ganduje suggested that a single-party system could streamline governance in Nigeria.
Ganduje made the remarks following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and three senators from the opposition People’s Democratic Party who are preparing to join the APC.
“If you look at China today, they operate a single-party system, yet China is now a global leader in driving the development of its people,” he said in a BBC Hausa report.
He added that if Nigerians decided to embrace such a system, “no one would fight against it.”
Ganduje said that the APC would welcome the idea if all parties in the country were to dissolve into the ruling party.
Ganduje announced that the PDP senators from Kebbi State had told the President of their decision to resign from their current party and rejoin the APC.
He added that they are expected to formally announce their defection in the Senate this week, in accordance with constitutional requirements.
“The APC now controls 265 seats across the two chambers, while opposition lawmakers have been reduced to 202”
The senators—Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki—were seen meeting with President Tinubu shortly before the announcement. Their move follows recent high-profile defections, including that of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who had contested the 2023 presidential election as the PDP vice-presidential candidate.
Several politicians who left opposition parties have pointed to internal disagreements and instability within their former parties as reasons for their decisions.
However, Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, attributed the defections to a lack of ideological commitment.
According to a BBC report, he suggested that the primary motivation for most politicians changing parties at this time is likely a result of their inability to achieve their goals within their existing party or a perception that being in the opposition offers no benefits, leading them to rejoin the party in power.
The recent wave of defections by federal opposition lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress has increased the ruling party’s majority in the National Assembly to 265.
This comes as the country’s major opposition parties, especially the People’s Democratic Party, Labour Party, and New Nigeria Peoples Party continue to grapple with internal crises.
The National Assembly, as currently constituted, comprises the Senate with 109 seats, and the House of Representatives, with 360 seats.
At the commencement of the 10th Assembly under the leadership of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the APC controlled 59 seats in the Red Chamber and 175 in the Green Chamber.
The opposition parties also had a strong presence in both chambers, holding 182 seats in the House of Representatives and 50 in the Senate.
In the House, the breakdown showed the PDP had 118 lawmakers, followed by the LP (35), NNPP (19), All Progressives Grand Alliance (five), Social Democratic Party (two), African Democratic Congress (two), and the Young Progressives Party (one), while two seats were declared vacant.
In the Senate, the PDP held 36 seats, LP (eight), NNPP (two), SDP (two), APGA (one), and YPP (one), making a total of 50.
However, since July 2023, a steady wave of defections has eroded the opposition’s numerical strength, bolstering the APC’s dominance in both chambers.
Between then and now, no fewer than 30 lawmakers, comprising six senators and 24 House members, have dumped the opposition parties and defected to the ruling APC.
Of the six senators, four were from the PDP, while the remaining two were from the LP and NNPP.
Among the 24 representatives, 16 were from the PDP, five from the LP, and three from the NNPP.
Overall, the APC now controls 265 seats across the two chambers, while opposition lawmakers have been reduced to 202.
Among the PDP lawmakers who have switched allegiance to the APC are Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Ethiope Federal Constituency, Delta State), Salisu Koko (Koko-Besse/Maiyama Federal Constituency, Kebbi State), and Amos Magaji (Zango Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, Kaduna State).
Others include Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North District), Jallo Hussaini Mohammed (Igabi Federal Constituency, Kaduna State), Adamu Tanko (Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal Constituency, Niger State), Chris Nkwonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, Abia State), and Suleiman Abubakar Gumi (Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency, Zamfara State).
The list also includes Nnamdi Ezechi (Ndokwa/Ukwuani), Jonathan Okodiko (Isoko), Thomas Eriyetomi (Warri), Julius Pondi (Burutu), and Victor Nwokolo (Ika North and South), all in the House of Reps.
The three Kebbi lawmakers, Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), who recently joined the APC after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, make up the remaining defections from the PDP.
Defectors from the LP include Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi (Imo East Senatorial District), Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo State), Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Federal Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna State), and Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Cross River State).
Those who dumped the NNPP include Yusuf Galambi (Gwaram Federal Constituency, Jigawa State), Senator Kawu Sumaila; Kabiru Rurum (Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure); Abdullahi Sani Rogo (Karaye/Rogo).
Some of the existing opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly have condemned the gale of defections into the APC by their colleagues.
The aggrieved legislators also dismissed claims by the defectors that their reason for running to the PC was due to one form of crisis or the other in the political platforms on which they were elected.
Similarly, the PDP and LP national leaderships have, at different times, vowed to sue the defecting lawmakers, while the NNPP national leader and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has described the actions as a gross betrayal of the affected parties.
Political experts have also claimed that the wave of defections was solidifying President Tinubu’s grip on the federal legislature, drifting the country towards a one-party dictatorship.
However, the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, said that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria being a one-party system, saying the ruling party was willing and capable of integrating all defectors into its ranks.
Political analysts, including a former senator, also stated that the steady wave of defections by opposition lawmakers to the APC is strengthening President Bola Tinubu’s grip on the federal legislature.
According to political observers, the wave of defections has solidified the ruling party’s dominance in the Assembly, making it easier for the Tinubu’s administration to advance its agenda with minimal resistance.
A former national lawmaker, Senator Femi Okurounmu, observed that the growing majority of APC lawmakers in the National Assembly had further weakened the legislature’s ability to check Tinubu’s executive powers.
“The defections have not only strengthened the President’s influence; the legislature has, more or less, rendered itself powerless by surrendering its authority to the President. Now, the President can do anything he wants. The legislature is no longer a check. Yet, it is supposed to serve as a check on executive power,” he stated.
Okurounmu added that the weakened opposition had pushed the country toward a one-party system and unitarian leadership where the President controls the three organs of government.
When asked what might have driven the mass defections among opposition lawmakers, the senator said politicians in the ruling party enjoyed more privileges in terms of appointments and access to resources.
Similarly, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Chief Peter Ameh, noted that the influx of new members into the APC had somehow altered the balance of power within the National Assembly.
He said, “With more lawmakers aligning with the ruling party, President Tinubu may find it easier to pass legislation and implement policies that align with his agenda, even if those policies are unpopular or undemocratic.
“Secondly, the defections could further weaken the opposition parties, making it more difficult for them to present a united front during National Assembly engagements. As opposition parties continue to lose members, they may struggle to maintain their relevance and influence within the legislature.
“This could create an opportunity for President Tinubu to further consolidate his party’s dominance within the governance structure. However, it may not necessarily impact how people vote in the 2027 general elections.”
In his analysis, the President of the National Association of Political Scientists, Prof. Hassan Salisu, also noted that the defection of opposition lawmakers to the ruling party had given Tinubu a stronger foothold in the National Assembly.
He, however, cautioned that the close relationship between the Tinubu-led executive and the 10th Assembly should not automatically be viewed as a threat to the principles of checks and balances, adding that it is not ideal for lawmakers to always be in open hostility with the executive.
Also, a political storm is brewing within the APC as a flood of defections from opposition parties threatens to reshape its internal power dynamics and test the party’s capacity to manage competing ambitions.
While the APC appears to be consolidating its grip on power ahead of the 2027 general elections, analysts say the recent wave of crossovers could destabilise the party from within and trigger leadership struggles with far-reaching consequences.
Over the last several months, the APC has witnessed an influx of high-profile politicians switching allegiance from opposition camps, particularly the PDP, LP and the NNPP.
Among the most striking defections are those from Delta State, where sitting Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, joined the ruling party, effectively gutting the PDP’s leadership in the oil-rich state.
This development came as a shock to many observers, especially considering that Okowa was the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections. That he would abandon the party he represented on a national ticket just two ago underscores the level of disarray in the opposition and the gravitational pull the APC now exerts.
The mass exodus is not limited to Delta. In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno recently expressed open support for President Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government. Although he has not formally declared for the APC, political analysts see his public posturing as a signal that another high-level defection may be imminent.
Similar developments have been reported in states like Rivers, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Edo, where PDP and LP structures are reportedly weakened, and negotiations are ongoing between their leaders and top APC officials. With each passing week, Nigeria’s political landscape is being redrawn, and the APC is fast emerging as the dominant party in states where it once held little influence.
Despite appearances, the defectors’ motivations are far from ideological. According to political commentators, most of these crossovers are calculated moves by politicians seeking to remain relevant, evade corruption probes, or secure access to federal resources and protection.
“The rate of defections clearly shows these moves are more about political survival than policy or ideology.
“These are not acts of conviction but of convenience. Politicians are positioning themselves to benefit from the spoils of the ruling party, especially as the 2027 election cycle approaches,” said Laja Ogunyemi, a political analyst.
The timing of the defections, occurring just as Tinubu begins his second year in office, is also telling. Many of the defectors are either under investigation by anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or have ongoing political battles in their states. By aligning with the APC, they gain proximity to federal power, which has traditionally served as a buffer against legal and political threats.
“Let’s be honest, some are running from the EFCC. Once you’re with the ruling party, your troubles tend to vanish or get delayed. That’s the reality of our system,” said Temitope Musowo, a political commentator.
Perhaps no state better illustrates the internal fallout of these defections than Delta. The entry of Oborevwori and Okowa into the APC has sparked a fierce leadership contest within the party. Until recently, Ovie Omo-Agege, former deputy senate president and the APC’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, was widely regarded as the leader of the party in the state. But the new power dynamics threaten his status.
At a recent political reception, Oborevwori said: “The governor is in charge, and we are taking charge. I don’t believe in any faction, whether the Omo-Agege or Festus Keyamo faction, everybody must queue.”
His statement signaled a clear intention to take over the party’s structure in Delta, in line with the traditional norm that sitting governors who join a party become its de facto leader in the state. But Omo-Agege, who led the APC’s campaign in 2023 and kept the party afloat in a state long dominated by the PDP, is not backing down.
In a statement, he emphasised that discussions were ongoing with national APC leaders and the Progressive Governors Forum to manage the new realities: “In line with the outcomes of deliberations with the national leadership of our party, the Progressive Governors Forum, and Delta APC stakeholders, I wish to assure all stakeholders that any issue arising from this development is being carefully considered and managed with prudence and foresight.”
Still, tensions are high. Sources close to the Delta APC describe the atmosphere as ‘tense and unpredictable.’ While party elders are calling for unity, younger politicians aligned with Omo-Agege fear being sidelined in the emerging order.
“There are conditions given to high-ranking defectors before accepting them into the party. The governor is the leader of the party in every state. They would have to look for other ways to compensate Omo-Agege, or else the party would have to weigh its options,” said Ajibola Oduwole, a lawyer and public affairs commentator.
He added: “There would have been several meetings and compromises before the governor was allowed into the party. And I am sure Omo-Agege cannot feign ignorance of this. Unless, of course, the party feels the governor is a more valuable addition to its fold than persons like Omo-Agege.”
“We built this party from scratch when it wasn’t popular. We stood by it during tough elections. Now people who mocked us are joining and being promised automatic tickets. It’s unacceptable. The party must manage this or face rebellion”
Beyond Delta, similar sentiments are brewing among long-time APC members in other states. Many are grumbling over the preferential treatment defectors appear to be receiving.
A senior APC chieftain in the South West, who preferred not to be named, said: “We built this party from scratch when it wasn’t popular. We stood by it during tough elections. Now people who mocked us are joining and being promised automatic tickets. It’s unacceptable. The party must manage this or face rebellion.”
This sense of betrayal could become explosive during the 2026 and 2027 primary seasons. Many of the new entrants are reportedly being assured of tickets or leadership roles, a move that risks alienating foundational party members and triggering parallel structures or defections back to the opposition.
“Many of these new members will be shocked when the primaries come. They think it will be automatic, but we won’t allow it. If care is not taken, this could lead to mass defections in reverse,” the chieftain continued.
The ongoing implosion of the PDP, coupled with the weakening of LP and NNPP, has raised concerns among civil society actors and political observers that Nigeria may be drifting toward a one-party state. Already, federal lawmakers, former governors, and top party financiers are leaving their parties, citing irrelevance and lack of internal democracy.
Musowo argued that the fluid nature of these defections is symptomatic of a deeper problem, Nigeria’s lack of institutionalised party ideology and weak democratic norms.
“It’s like political nomadism. Many of these politicians still keep lines open to their former parties. They’re hedging their bets. If the APC doesn’t offer them tickets or influence, they’ll quietly return,” he said.
Interestingly, while the APC is gaining defectors from outside, it is also facing internal cracks within its legacy blocs, particularly the Congress for Progressive Change faction.
Recently, reports surfaced that some governors have reached out to former President Muhammadu Buhari to help halt the defection of his loyalists, including former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party.
The CPC bloc has long felt marginalised under the Tinubu administration, which leans heavily on the Action Congress of Nigeria faction. As more CPC leaders explore alternative political platforms, the APC risks losing a crucial part of its founding coalition.
With less than two years until the 2027 elections, the APC faces a critical test of its internal cohesion and capacity to manage ambition. The ruling party’s dominance at the federal level and in most states may be impressive on paper, but the ground reality is more fragile.
“This is not just about numbers. The APC must decide whether it wants to be a coherent party with principles or just a vehicle for power. If it’s the latter, it will implode eventually,” Ogunyemi said.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic hardship, insecurity, and democratic backsliding, the consolidation of power in one party raises serious questions about accountability, checks and balances, and electoral integrity.
The coming months will reveal whether the APC can manage its internal contradictions, or whether the flood of new allies will wash away its foundations.