The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Thursday, said the ruling party was expecting the defection of more governors from the opposition into its fold in the build-up to the 2027 general election.
Ganduje spoke when he formally received some defectors from the Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by the Senator representing Kano South, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila.
He expressed confidence that the ruling party would win all the forthcoming elections even before the next general election in 2027, declaring that the project was a “done deal”.
Other NNPP defectors included Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurmum, member representing Rano/Kibiya federal constituency in the House of Representatives; Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo; Hon. Zubairu Hamza Massu, a member of Kano State House of Assembly; Dr Baffa Bichi, former Secretary to the Kano State Government; Hon. Mohd Digol, a former Commissioner; Hon. Abbas S. Abbas, a former Commissioner; Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal, a former governorship candidate; Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta, a former member of House of Reps, and Hon. Idris Dankuwa, a former member of House of Representatives.
Speaking with journalists after a closed-door meeting with the new defectors, Ganduje said APC believed in President Bola Tunbu, his economic reforms and Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that part of the political renewed hope agenda was canvassing for more followership for the party.
“We started by democratically electing governors, especially in Edo State, which was in PDP, we elected, we succeeded in winning the election, it 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 election, APC Insha Allah will win those elections,” he said.
Also speaking on behalf of other new entrants into APC, Senator Sumaila said the development was the coming together of like-minds in NNPP in Kano state.
On whether his defection will make impact for APC, the Kano South Senator said: “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 elections, the senatorial and state assembly members, you will see the difference and you will understand what we are telling you.”
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