2027: Governors flocking to APC won’t decide elections- NNPP

The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, has described the recent wave of defections by governors and other political figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as “a shame and a pity.”

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Johnson said the reasons behind the defections remained unclear, expressing doubt that they were motivated by good governance or national interest.

“I think the governors will know individually the reasons why they are fawning over the president or the APC. Some have moved from the PDP and elsewhere. I’m not so sure it’s about good governance or the country. It’s such a shame and a pity,” he said.

Johnson, however, insisted that political outcomes ultimately rest with the electorate, noting that control of state governments does not automatically translate into electoral victory.

“At the end of the day, it is only the people who can decide what will happen. Notwithstanding that you have 36 states and governors, something else might happen. It’s not over until it’s over. We are just entering the election year, and elections will be held next year,” he added.

He also addressed rumours of possible defections within the party’s Kwankwasiyya movement, dismissing claims that Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, or Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso had decided to join the APC.

“The governor has not said anything to the National Working Committee or the National Executive Committee. In fact, he was at the convention we held two weeks ago,” Johnson said.

According to him, while an aide of the governor reportedly suggested that there was an agreement in Kano for Kwankwaso and the governor to move to the APC, such claims were unfounded.

“Senator Kwankwaso has not agreed to that. He hasn’t told anyone, and he hasn’t permitted anyone in his group to move to the APC or any party for that matter,” he said, adding that recent developments in Kano had become troubling and unfortunate for the party.

Johnson concluded by warning that the ongoing tensions were ill-timed with the general election less than a year away, stressing that defection to the APC does not guarantee political success.