Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says governors are defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for “personal survival”.
Atiku said this in reaction to the defection of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to the APC on Friday, February 27, 2026.
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 their choice.
The chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) added that the 2027 election will be a straight fight between Bola 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 are 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.”
Atiku stated that the wave of defections by opposition governors is 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.
Adamawa PDP chairman, 21 LG chairmen defect to APC
Atiku said: “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.”
Atiku urged Nigerians not to confuse political cross-carpeting with popularity, saying: “What will the APC campaign on in 2027 — hunger? hardship? hopelessness?”
He further warned Nigerians against vote-selling in the 2027 general election, stating: “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.”
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