Prominent figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Nigeria are reportedly planning a mass defection due to growing dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Among those expected to leave are former ministers from Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, past governors, and senators.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, officially defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday, citing a fundamental disconnect between his values and the APC’s current trajectory.
El-Rufai, who has been a vocal critic of Tinubu’s government, revealed on Wednesday that he sought Buhari’s approval before leaving the party.
His defection triggered a wave of departures, particularly among those who were part of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with others to form the APC in 2013.
Following El-Rufai’s move, a former House of Representatives member from Katsina, Ahmad Kaita, also joined the SDP.
Similarly, former Kaduna State commissioners Ibrahim Hussaini (Agriculture), Aisha Dikko (Justice), Amina Baloni (Health), and Halima Lawal (Education), along with ex-Head of Service, Hajiya Bari’atu Mohammed, have all abandoned the APC.
In Gombe State, Adamu Modibbo, who served as the APC’s campaign secretary during the 2015 elections, has also defected and now chairs the SDP in the state.
A former senator from the ninth National Assembly, speaking anonymously, disclosed that at least 10 former ministers from Buhari’s administration were making moves to leave the APC.
According to the source, key figures leading the defection include former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, and former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.
The source explained, “What they’re waiting for is the finalisation of the party structure in their respective states.”
One of Malami’s close aides also confirmed his involvement in the movement, stating, “It is not about ousting Tinubu in 2027 but about our conviction that we have better and more credible constitutional alternatives to offer Nigerians in governance, particularly with regard to institutionalising a human-centred approach to governance.”
“We collectively abhor the prevailing order in which governance is commercialised to the detriment of Nigerians and their welfare. It seems to be a marriage of tendencies that cut across the existing political parties with high-profile politicians from PDP, defunct CPC, ACN and APC, among others.”
“In personality sense, those involved across the geographical zones include serving and former governors and senators, former ministers, and past and present party officials.”
A reliable source further listed some key political figures involved in the coalition movement, including former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun).
Also mentioned were former Senate President David Mark, ex-APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, former Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba, and Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South).
An APC chieftain in Imo State confirmed that the CPC faction within the party had finalized plans to leave, stating, “That some ministers who served under Buhari are leaving or will leave the APC is confirmed.
However, they may not join the SDP, but I know they are part of the coalition movement.
“President Tinubu has mismanaged the success of our party, and it is painful that things are going awry every day. APC bigwigs, both in the North and South, are not happy, and the President doesn’t care. You don’t grow by reducing in size. The APC is reducing in size.”
“The CPC bloc of the party has also been leaving. You will agree with me that the CPC is a strong bloc in the APC, and if it is gone, I doubt if the APC will remain the same.”
