Benin City, March 5, 2026 – Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently has 31 governors across Nigeria, with expectations of additional high-profile defections in the coming months. The governor made the declaration on Wednesday during a well-attended official reception ceremony for defectors held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The event, which drew large crowds of party supporters, traditional rulers, political stakeholders, and newly defected members from various opposition parties, served as a platform to formally welcome the new entrants into the APC fold and to consolidate the party’s growing dominance in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Governor Okpebholo, who assumed office in November 2024 following a keenly contested governorship election, used the occasion to highlight the APC’s strengthened national position and to reaffirm Edo State’s unwavering loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s national leadership.
“Let me begin by thanking the people of Edo State for the unity that is bringing us together and strengthening us as one political family,” the governor said in his address. “Currently, the All Progressives Congress has 31 governors, and I want to assure you that more governors will still join our party.”
He continued: “I also want to express my deep appreciation to our father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support. He has been very supportive of us, and we assure him that Edo State will be delivered to him in the 2027 general elections.”
The governor’s claim of 31 APC governors reflects a significant expansion of the party’s control at the subnational level since the 2023 general elections, when the APC secured 21 governorship seats. The increase stems from a combination of electoral victories in off-cycle polls, successful legal challenges that overturned opposition wins, and a steady stream of defections from other parties—particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and smaller opposition platforms.
Notable recent additions to the APC governors’ fold include defections or realignments in states such as Rivers (where political realignments have favored the APC), Delta, and others where governors or deputy governors have switched allegiance or aligned closely with the ruling party. Analysts note that these movements are driven by a mix of factors: perceived federal patronage advantages, internal crises within opposition parties, strategic calculations ahead of the 2027 polls, and the Tinubu administration’s outreach to opposition strongholds.
Wednesday’s reception in Benin City was particularly symbolic, as Edo State—once a PDP stronghold—has become a key APC bastion in the South-South under Okpebholo’s leadership. The governor praised the massive turnout and the “unity of purpose” among defectors and longstanding party members, describing the occasion as evidence of the APC’s growing appeal across ethnic, religious, and regional lines in Edo.
The event featured speeches from defecting leaders, who cited better governance prospects, developmental focus under the Tinubu administration, and the APC’s national momentum as reasons for their switch. Party chieftains at the ceremony, including state APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe and other executive members, echoed the governor’s optimism, predicting that the party would maintain and expand its dominance in forthcoming local government elections and the 2027 general cycle.
Governor Okpebholo’s assurance that “more governors will still join our party” aligns with ongoing political realignments across several states. Speculation has centered on potential defections in PDP-controlled states in the North-Central, South-East, and South-South zones, where governors face internal party challenges or seek stronger alignment with the federal government for infrastructure funding, security support, and economic initiatives.
President Tinubu’s administration has consistently denied allegations of coercion in the defection wave, with Vice President Kashim Shettima recently stating that such moves are voluntary and driven by recognition of the APC’s performance and viability.
The governor’s remarks also come amid intensified political activities nationwide as parties begin early preparations for the 2027 elections. With primaries expected in 2026, the APC is focusing on internal consolidation, membership drives, and strategic defections to build an unassailable electoral machine.
Edo State, under Okpebholo, has prioritized infrastructure rehabilitation, security enhancement, agricultural revival, and improved healthcare delivery—initiatives the governor links to federal support from the Tinubu administration. He reiterated that Edo would remain a reliable “home base” for the president in the next electoral cycle.
The reception concluded with prayers for national peace, unity, and continued progress under the APC-led federal government. Party leaders urged all members—old and new—to work tirelessly toward sustaining the momentum and delivering strong results in future polls.
As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to shift, Governor Okpebholo’s assertion of 31 APC governors and the promise of more defections signal a period of rapid realignment that could reshape power dynamics ahead of 2027.
