Why governors are defecting to APC - Atiku

By Our Reporter

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has offered reason governors are defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that they are embarking on such for "personal survival."

Atiku and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said this in reaction to the defection, last Friday, of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to the APC.

The former vice president, in a statement issued on Friday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, stressed that every politician has the freewill to choose a political party of his or her choice, but quickly, added that the 2027 election would be a straight fight between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC on one side, and Nigerians on the other.

“Every politician is free to choose a path,” Atiku said, adding that even his children were free to take independent political positions.

Atiku, however, said anyone, including his son, “who chooses to stand with Nigerians rather than the APC is standing on the side of patriotism."

The former vice president affirmed that the wave of defections by opposition governors was not a sign of APC strength, but evidence of pressure and intimidation.

He accused the Tinubu administration of weaponising state institutions to bully political opponents in a desperate bid to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

"This government fears accountability. It fears credible elections. It fears the people.

"No amount of coercion can erase the daily hardship Nigerians face — rising hunger, crushing poverty, worsening insecurity, and mass unemployment caused by failed economic policies.

"Governors may defect for personal survival. Nigerians are defecting in their millions because they want survival," he stated.

Atiku, however, urged Nigerians not to confuse political cross-carpeting with popularity, querying: "What will the APC campaign on in 2027 — hunger? hardship? hopelessness?”

This was just as he further warned Nigerians against vote-selling in the 2027 general election, saying that they should not trade their future, but would have their say and their will shall prevail, come 2027.

"Do not trade your future. Do not mortgage your children’s tomorrow. In 2027, the people will have their say — and their will shall prevail," he said.