2027: Southern PDP Governors Set to Join APC, Endorse Tinubu
Fresh developments indicate that several Southern governors from Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may soon throw their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027.
This emerging alliance is reportedly driven by a desire to uphold the informal power rotation agreement between the North and South, which has long influenced the country’s political landscape.
Credible sources close to ongoing political consultations revealed that more defections from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are likely in the coming months.
According to an insider who spoke to Leadership, the growing support among Southern PDP governors for Tinubu’s second-term ambition is rooted in the broader principle of geopolitical equity.
“Just as former President Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, completed two terms, there is a prevailing belief that Tinubu should be allowed to do the same for the South. It’s about preserving the balance in national power dynamics,” the source explained.
The trend is already taking shape. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori recently defected to the APC, and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has been dropping hints of his shifting loyalties.
Eno’s recent comment about not flying in a “faulty plane” was widely interpreted as a jab at the PDP’s ongoing internal strife and instability.
As it stands, the PDP still holds six governorship seats in the South—Bayelsa (Douye Diri), Oyo (Seyi Makinde), Osun (Ademola Adeleke), Akwa Ibom (Umo Eno), Enugu (Peter Mbah), and Rivers (Siminalayi Fubara).
However, cracks within the party and the rising influence of the APC have significantly weakened PDP’s traditional dominance in the region.
In the South-South, a two-term PDP governor has reportedly met with influential leaders of his ethnic group to discuss plans to publicly support Tinubu.
The same governor has also faced tensions with key PDP figures in his state, which could further motivate his political realignment.
Another governor from the South-South, who has already expressed open support for Tinubu, is allegedly working to persuade his predecessor to join the pro-Tinubu bloc.
However, political baggage and unresolved rivalries between the predecessor and his own predecessor are proving to be stumbling blocks.
Party insiders say the growing wave of defections is largely fueled by dissatisfaction with the PDP’s internal disarray.
Prolonged disputes over leadership positions—such as the unresolved controversy surrounding the national secretary role—and uncertainty over the party’s 2027 zoning strategy have left many stakeholders disillusioned.
“The party lacks a clear direction going into 2027. For some governors, aligning with Tinubu isn’t just about politics—it’s about survival,” the source added.
All eyes are now on the PDP’s upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for May 27. The session is expected to address pressing concerns about party leadership, zoning arrangements, and the roadmap to the next general election.
Political observers believe the outcomes of this crucial gathering could either help stabilize the party—or accelerate its fragmentation ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
2027: Southern PDP Governors Set to Join APC, Endorse Tinubu