ADC: Defecting Governors Lack Conviction, Driven by Self-Interest

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a swipe at state governors who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying their movement reflects a deficit of political conviction and personal character.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this while speaking during a programme on Arise Television on Friday. He said the defectors were acting out of vulnerability and convenience rather than genuine belief in the ruling party’s ideology.

According to him, none of the governors who joined the APC did so on the basis of principle.
“They are not convinced about anything going on in the APC,” Abdullahi said. “They are simply looking for an easy way out. To join the opposition as a sitting governor requires courage, conviction and a belief in the nation. These individuals lack that.”

His comments follow a string of high-profile defections that have reshaped the political landscape across several states.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC in April 2025, followed by Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno in June after months of speculation. Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, decamped in October.
Rivers State’s Siminalayi Fubara switched to the APC earlier this December amid political tensions in the state. Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri similarly abandoned the PDP for the ruling party in November, along with several state lawmakers.

Abdullahi described the pattern as part of a broader attempt by the APC to weaken the opposition and project the 2027 general election as a foregone conclusion.

“The APC is creating a mindset of inevitability—trying to make Nigerians believe that no matter what happens, they will win the next election. That is the greatest threat to democracy,” he argued.

The ADC spokesperson drew parallels with Nigeria’s political climate in 2007, when the PDP controlled 31 states but the general elections were widely criticised for irregularities.
He said the APC was “repeating the same pattern—manipulating structures to retain power while suppressing democratic choice.”

Abdullahi questioned whether the ruling party had succeeded in convincing Nigerians that it remains their best option.
“Uniting governors is one thing, but what about the people?” he asked. “No amount of whitewashing can change the reality Nigerians face every day.”

Despite lacking elected officeholders, Abdullahi said the ADC had expanded significantly, establishing headquarters in 28 states within five months—growth he attributed to citizens seeking an alternative political platform.

He also accused the ruling party of destabilising not only the PDP but also the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party through legal and political pressures.
“These actions are pushing politicians into the ADC,” he said, warning that such tactics could edge Nigeria toward a one-party system.

Abdullahi further alleged that the APC was attempting to interfere with the ADC’s registration status at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“They continue to throw legal obstacles at us. It is clear they fear giving Nigerians a credible choice in 2027,” he said.

He insisted that recent hardships experienced under the APC-led administration would make it difficult for the ruling party to secure genuine public support.
“APC today represents the greatest threat to Nigerian democracy,” he concluded.