The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has declared the 2027 elections as a done deal for the ruling party.
TheHintsNews reports that Ganduje’s bold declaration may not be unconnected with Wednesday’s defection of the Governor of Delta State Sheriff Oborevwori and the 2023 running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the ruling party. National Assembly and state Assembly members from the state, as well as local government chairmen from the state.
The ranks of the opposition shrink further on Thursday when Ganduje formally received some leaders of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Kano State chapter, led by the Senator representing Kano South, Senator Kawu Ismailia.
Ganduje, while addressing the new entrants into the party said that more opposition governors are being expected.
He stated: “In APC, we believe in our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tunbu, 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.
“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 caliber 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’m telling you is that APC 2027 is a done deal.”
“More governors are coming into APC. I assure you, and places where we have elections, APC in shallah will win those elections.
The decampees are: former Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Mohd Digol, a former Commissioner in Kano state government, Hon. Abbas Abbas, a former Commissioner in Kano state, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal, a former governorship candidate, Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta, a former member, House of Reps, and Hon. Idris Dankuwa, a former member, House of Representatives
Also included are: Hon. Kabiru Rurmum, Representing Rano/Kibiya in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdullahi Rogo, Hon. Zubairu Massu, member of Kano State House of Assembly, Dr. Baffa Bichi.
Speaking, Kawu described their decision to join the ruling party as the coming together of like-minds in Kano State NNPP.
Asked whether his defection will make an impact for APC, he added, “I will refer you to the 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.”