The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday declared that the 2027 general election was already a “done deal,” expressing strong confidence in winning all off-season elections leading up to the main polls.
The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, made this statement while officially receiving defectors from the Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by Senator representing Kano South, Senator Kawu Ismaila.
Dr. Ganduje also confirmed that more governors from opposition parties are expected to defect to the APC in the near future, referencing the recent switch of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the APC as a major development.
Joining Senator Kawu in his move to the APC were several notable figures from Kano State. These included Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurmum, who represents Rano/Kibiya in the Federal House of Representatives; Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo; Rt. Hon. Zubairu Hamza Massu, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly; Dr. A. B. Baffa Bichi, a former Secretary to the State Government; Hon. Mohd Digol, a former Commissioner in the Kano State government; Hon. Abbas S. Abbas, also a former Commissioner in the state; Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal, a former governorship candidate; Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta, a former member of the House of Representatives; and Hon. Idris Dankuwa, also a former House of Representatives member.
Following a closed-door meeting with the new entrants, Ganduje said, “In APC, we believe in our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We believe in his economic reforms, we believe in his Renewed Hope Agenda and part of the political renewed hope agenda is trying to canvass for more followership into the party.”
He further explained, “We started by democratically electing governors, especially in Edo State, who was in PDP, we elected, we succeeded in winning the election, he is now in APC.”
“Now, there is another channel that has been opened through advocacy, through dialogue, through convincing some highly and even elected governors to come into the party and you can see what has happened now.”
“The governor of Delta State is now in APC, including his cabinet, including all the members of the state assembly and House of Representatives, and the timber and calibre of PDP, now in APC, even including the former vice presidential candidate coming into our party.”
“So, you can see that we are expanding. I don’t want to reveal our secret, but what I am telling you is that for APC, 2027 is a done deal.”
When asked about the possibility of more governors defecting to the ruling party, Ganduje replied, “More governors are coming into APC, I assure you, and places where we have election, APC will by God’s grace, win those elections.”
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Senator Kawu said, “This is the coming together of likeminds in NNPP Kano state.”
When asked what value he brings to the APC, Kawu responded, “I will refer you to 2023 general election. Go and check the results. I mean the Presidential, Senatorial, and House of Representatives elections, where we contested the same day, the same polling unit with Kwankwaso. That will give you the answer to your question.”
“You will see my result, his (Kwankwaso) result, and various members of the House of Representatives on that very day.”
“Then the subsequent election, the senatorial and state assembly members, you will see the difference and you will understand what we are telling you,” he explained.
