“Governors Decamping To APC Will Destroy The Party, 2027 Election Won’t Be Won By Number of Decampees”, Tinubu Warned 

President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been warned to exercise caution and avoid premature celebrations over recent defections of governors and other politicians to the party.

 

The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a strong warning to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioning that the increasing wave of defections into the ruling party may ultimately create internal crises rather than strengthen its chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Ayodele specifically warned that the growing number of politicians joining the ruling party should not be seen as a guarantee of electoral victory, urging Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership to exercise caution and avoid premature celebrations over the development.

 

The cleric made these remarks in a statement issued through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, where he expressed concern that many of the new entrants into the ruling party may have personal or hidden political agendas that could destabilize the party from within.

 

Warning Against Overconfidence

 

In the statement, Ayodele stressed that the APC should not assume that the influx of governors and political heavyweights from opposition parties automatically translates to increased popularity or electoral strength.

 

According to him, political defections often come with competing interests, ambitions, and loyalties that may lead to internal conflict if not properly managed.

 

He warned that rather than strengthening the ruling party, the new entrants could become a major source of division and rivalry within the APC structure.

 

“The leadership of the APC should not rejoice yet because of the number of people decamping to the party,” Ayodele said.

 

He noted that many of the politicians joining the party may not necessarily share the same vision or ideological commitment with the existing leadership, which could result in internal struggles for influence and power as the 2027 elections approach.

 

Defections May Create Internal Crisis

 

The cleric further argued that some of the defectors were unable to build or strengthen their former political parties and are merely seeking political survival rather than genuine ideological alignment.

 

According to him, such motivations could ultimately weaken the internal cohesion of the ruling party.

 

“Many people decamping to the APC are just wasting their time; it just shows they are not capable of making their party better,” Ayodele stated.

 

He added that rather than becoming assets to the ruling party, the defectors could trigger political tensions and disputes over party structures, leadership positions, and electoral tickets.

 

“They are the ones who will cause problems in the party,” he warned.

 

Ayodele therefore advised the APC leadership to focus more on strengthening party unity and governance rather than relying on the growing number of defectors as a measure of political dominance.

 

2027 Election Will Not Be Business as Usual

 

Looking ahead to the next general election cycle, Ayodele predicted that the 2027 presidential election would not follow the traditional pattern of Nigerian politics where the ruling party’s numerical strength determines the outcome.

 

Instead, he suggested that the election could produce unexpected political outcomes that would challenge existing assumptions about power and electoral success.

 

“The APC shouldn’t rejoice till after the election because the presidential election will teach a lot of lessons,” he said.

 

According to him, the political environment leading up to the election may become more competitive and unpredictable, making it difficult for any party to rely solely on the number of defectors or alliances.

 

Some Defectors May Fail in Their States

 

Ayodele also predicted that some politicians who recently defected to the APC might still struggle to win elections in their respective states despite aligning with the ruling party.

 

He argued that voters may judge candidates based on performance, credibility, and local political dynamics rather than their party affiliation alone.

 

“Some of the decampees will fail in their states,” he said.

 

The cleric explained that the political landscape in Nigeria is evolving, and voters are increasingly becoming more aware of governance issues and leadership performance.

 

As a result, he suggested that simply joining a dominant political party may not be enough to secure electoral victory in future contests.

 

Call for Strategic Leadership

 

Ayodele urged the APC leadership to approach the growing wave of defections with strategic caution rather than viewing it purely as a political advantage.

 

He stressed that managing internal party dynamics would become more critical as the party continues to expand and absorb politicians from different ideological and regional backgrounds.

 

Political observers have often noted that large-scale defections can sometimes trigger leadership disputes, competition for party tickets, and factional divisions, especially in the build-up to major elections.

 

Ayodele’s warning appears to echo similar concerns expressed by analysts who believe that political parties in Nigeria must prioritize institutional stability over opportunistic alliances.

 

Nigeria’s Persistent Culture of Political Defections

 

Political defections have long been a defining feature of Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as election cycles approach. Politicians frequently move between parties in pursuit of strategic advantages, alliances, or better chances of securing electoral tickets.

 

While such movements can temporarily strengthen a party’s numerical strength, critics argue that they sometimes undermine ideological consistency and party discipline.

 

In recent months, the APC has continued to receive new members from various opposition parties, including prominent political figures and governors seeking alignment with the ruling party ahead of future elections.

 

Supporters of the ruling party often interpret these defections as evidence of the APC’s growing dominance and political appeal.

 

However, Ayodele’s remarks suggest that the situation may not be as straightforward as it appears.

 

Lessons Ahead of 2027

 

As political preparations gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, Ayodele maintained that the real test of the APC’s strength will come at the ballot box rather than through the number of politicians joining its ranks.

 

He reiterated that the ruling party should focus on governance, internal unity, and strategic leadership if it hopes to maintain political stability and electoral success.

 

“The election won’t be won by the number of decampees,” he said.

 

According to him, the coming election cycle could deliver important lessons to political actors across the country about the changing dynamics of Nigerian democracy.

 

For now, Ayodele’s warning serves as a reminder that political victories are rarely determined by numbers alone, but rather by effective leadership, public trust, and the ability of parties to maintain unity amid growing ambitions and competing interests.

 

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the ruling party faces the challenge of balancing expansion with internal stability—an issue that could ultimately shape the outcome of the 2027 elections.