2027: Fubara, Other PDP Governors Negotiating To Join APC, Back Tinubu’s Reelection
With the 2027 general election on the horizon, high-level political maneuvering is underway as at least three governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are considering defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection.
Multiple sources confirmed that talks between APC leaders and some PDP governors are at advanced stages, with several conditions already being negotiated.
The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to bolster Tinubu’s base, especially amid growing discontent in northern Nigeria, where support for his reelection is reportedly waning.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State publicly declared his support for President Tinubu, stating at a public event that, “in his state, there’s no more party politics,” describing PDP and APC as a “unity party
According to reports by THISDAY, the entire political machinery in Akwa Ibom, traditionally PDP-dominated, is expected to swing behind APC in 2027.
This includes support for Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s return bid to the upper chamber.
“Sir, for doing that (endorsing Tinubu), I am a member of the All Progressives Congress. I am speaking for the elders and to tell you we are also going to support you for a second term.
“We will support you in whatever aspiration you have. Yesterday, you broke a record by being the first opposition governor to declare support for a second term bid of President Tinubu,” Akpabio’s representative said during a lecture at the University of Uyo.
Behind the scenes, governors like Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) are reportedly weighing similar moves—either to remain in the PDP while quietly backing Tinubu or to formally cross to the APC.
Oborevwori is said to be waiting on assurances from APC stakeholders before finalizing his decision.
Fubara’s earlier plans to defect were reportedly stalled due to his political feud with former governor Nyesom Wike and Tinubu’s dissatisfaction with the handling of the Rivers crisis.
However, he remains intent on safeguarding his mandate and securing a second term, which could draw him closer to the ruling party.
Fubara’s refusal to join PDP governors in a legal challenge against the state of emergency declared in Rivers, and his absence—along with Eno and Oborevwori—from a recent PDP Governors’ Forum meeting in Ibadan, signal a quiet but strategic retreat from the opposition bloc.
Meanwhile, Mbah, seen as a close ally of the presidency, is reportedly exploring all options ahead of 2027—whether to stay within the PDP or align more openly with Tinubu’s reelection agenda.
The defection talks are reportedly coordinated in part by Senate President Akpabio, who views the alliance with Governor Eno as key to solidifying APC control in Akwa Ibom by 2027. Eno’s defection is also rumored to be tied to efforts to shield former Governor Udom Emmanuel—his predecessor and benefactor—from ongoing EFCC investigations.
Amid growing unease within the PDP, party stakeholders are scrambling to respond to the looming realignments, which could deal a heavy blow to its national prospects in 2027.
Internal debates have intensified over how to prevent the loss of key governors, with concerns that such defections could signal an easy path to victory for Tinubu and the APC.
Still, some within the party remain cautiously optimistic, pointing out that the governors may yet reconsider if a strong southern coalition against Tinubu emerges.
Adding to the intrigue, THISDAY reports of a secret meeting being planned this weekend in London between President Tinubu, a major opposition figure from Kano State, and a prominent northern monarch.
Another meeting involving a former president is reportedly on the agenda, as part of a broader effort to resecure the North’s political backing.
Tinubu’s camp believes that, despite internal APC tensions and opposition threats, securing the loyalty of certain PDP governors and northern influencers could be the game-changer for 2027.
