In a scathing rebuke that has sent ripples through Nigeria's political landscape, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that the latest defections of opposition governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are irrefutable evidence of President Bola Tinubu's relentless drive to transform Nigeria into a monolithic one-party state. This bold accusation, articulated in a meticulously worded statement by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, paints a grim picture of democratic erosion, where personal ambition trumps the collective will of the people. As Nigeria grapples with escalating economic hardships and security woes, the ADC's pronouncement serves as a clarion call, urging citizens to awaken to what it describes as a calculated assault on the nation's pluralistic foundations.
The defections in question involve the governors of Enugu State in the southeast and Bayelsa State in the oil-rich Niger Delta, both of whom have abandoned their original opposition platforms to swell the ranks of the APC. For the ADC, these moves are not mere political realignments but outright "acts of political apostasy"—a betrayal so profound that it echoes the treachery of historical turncoats who forsake their followers for fleeting gains. Abdullahi's statement, released on October 15, 2025, dissects this phenomenon with surgical precision, arguing that it validates the ADC's prophetic warnings issued since Tinubu's assumption of office in 2023. "The recent defections by the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) validate the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s long-standing warning that President Bola Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, no matter the cost to democracy or national stability," Abdullahi asserted, his words laced with the urgency of a whistleblower exposing a deepening conspiracy.
To fully grasp the gravity of this development, one must rewind to the broader context of Nigeria's post-2023 election dynamics. The APC, under Tinubu's leadership, has aggressively pursued a strategy of numerical dominance, luring defectors with promises of federal patronage, infrastructure projects, and protection from anti-corruption probes. Enugu's governor, previously aligned with the Labour Party, had positioned himself as a vocal critic of Tinubu's economic reforms, including the controversial removal of fuel subsidies that ignited nationwide protests. Similarly, Bayelsa's leader, hailing from the People's Democratic Party (PDP), had championed local environmental causes amid oil spills ravaging the delta. Their abrupt switches—announced amid fanfare in Abuja—have not only bolstered the APC's gubernatorial tally to an unprecedented 22 out of 36 states but also shattered the fragile opposition coalition that once held sway in the National Assembly and key regions.
Abdullahi masterfully flips the narrative on these apparent APC victories, insisting that the true victors are not the ruling party but the very architects of national suffering. "While it may seem like the APC has added more governors to its column, in reality, what has happened is these governors have actually abandoned their people to team up with the ruling party that has made life miserable for the majority," he declared. This poignant observation underscores a fundamental democratic principle: leadership is a covenant with the electorate, not a transactional alliance. By defecting, these governors have forsaken mandates earned on platforms of change and accountability, opting instead for the comforts of power-sharing within a government accused of perpetuating inequality.
Delving deeper into the human cost, Abdullahi catalogues the daily agonies inflicted by APC misrule, transforming abstract policy failures into visceral realities. Nigerians, he notes, "can see the current state of the nation. They live through the APC’s failures every single day. Even those who once campaigned for the APC or had its logo on their social media profiles now avoid association with the party." Consider the soaring food prices: a bag of rice, once affordable at 20,000 naira in 2023, now commands over 80,000 naira, pushing millions into hunger. Unemployment rates, hovering at 40% according to recent National Bureau of Statistics data, have turned vibrant youth into idle masses, fueling urban unrest. Insecurity remains a scourge, with banditry in the northwest and separatist agitations in the southeast claiming over 5,000 lives in 2025 alone, per Amnesty International reports. Healthcare systems, starved of funds, see patients dying from treatable ailments, while social welfare programs like the palliatives meant to cushion subsidy removal have been marred by corruption scandals, benefiting elites rather than the poor.
Abdullahi's critique extends to the Tinubu administration's foreign policy blunders, lambasting its "failure to restore Nigeria’s standing in the international community." Once Africa's diplomatic powerhouse, Nigeria under Tinubu has faced isolation: ECOWAS sanctions over the Niger coup, strained ties with the UK over visa policies, and a downgraded credit rating by Moody's to junk status, deterring vital investments. "The administration has failed on insecurity, failed on economic management, failed on healthcare, failed on social welfare, failed on corruption, and failed to restore Nigeria’s standing," Abdullahi enumerated, each indictment a nail in the coffin of APC legitimacy.
At the heart of the ADC's outrage lies the defectors' abdication of opposition duties. In a thriving democracy, opposition figures are the bulwark against tyranny, offering blueprints for reform and rallying the disenfranchised. Yet, these governors, Abdullahi charges, chose expediency over valor. "When the ruling party has misgoverned the country, the only hope for the people in a democracy is for the opposition to rise up in defence, propose alternative ideas, and lead the people out of their misery. This is what Nigerians expected from these governors in opposition. Instead, they abdicated. And in an act of historic political apostasy, they chose to join the grand conspiracy against the Nigerian people. They abandoned their people, not out of conviction but out of cowardice and other selfish considerations." This rhetoric evokes memories of Nigeria's military eras, when one-party dominance stifled dissent, and positions the defections as a modern echo of that authoritarianism.
Yet, amid this bleak tableau, the ADC injects unyielding optimism, rooted in the evolving consciousness of Nigerian voters. "Despite the defections, the ADC remains confident that Nigerians have become more politically aware and will hold their leaders accountable at the polls," Abdullahi affirmed. The 2027 general elections, he prophesied, will transcend partisan skirmishes, morphing into "a contest between the people of Nigeria and the ruling party that has sent the majority into abject poverty." Social media buzz, youth-led movements like #EndBadGovernance, and rising voter registration—up 25% per INEC figures—signal a populace no longer swayed by ethnic loyalties or monetary inducements.
In a parting shot that crystallizes the ADC's resolve, Abdullahi contrasts the APC's jubilation with the opposition's sharpened focus. "While the ruling party continues to celebrate the defection of these governors, the ADC and the opposition coalition are equally delighted that the line has been made even clearer between those who are committed to saving the country and those who merely want to join the gravy train. The people can see, and they are waiting. 2027 will be a clear battle between the people of Nigeria and President Tinubu and his gang of governors in the APC." This framing recasts defections not as losses but as clarifiers, galvanizing a unified front against oligarchic rule.
As Nigeria hurtles toward 2027, the ADC's statement transcends mere partisanship, emerging as a manifesto for democratic revival. It challenges citizens to reclaim their agency, reminding them that power resides with the people—not in Aso Rock's corridors or defectors' briefcases. In an era where one-party whispers grow louder, voices like Abdullahi's ensure the flame of pluralism endures. The battle lines are drawn; the electorate, battle-hardened by adversity, stands ready. Nigeria's democratic soul hangs in the balance, and 2027 promises to be its defining reckoning.
