Akpabio Faces Ouster as Zulum Leads Northern Governors Mass Defection

The political landscape in Nigeria is witnessing a significant realignment as a plot to remove Senate President Godswill Akpabio appears to be intensifying, coinciding with a strategic defection movement spearheaded by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.

Zulum is reportedly leading efforts to facilitate the defection of five northern governors from the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

It is a development that could reshape the power dynamics within the ruling party and the opposition.

At the center of this political drama is Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and a key figure in the APC’s consolidation of power in the South-South region.

Akpabio has been instrumental in orchestrating defections from the PDP to the APC, notably the recent high-profile defection of Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno.

Eno’s move from the PDP to the APC on June 6, 2025, was hailed by Akpabio as a historic and strategic victory, symbolizing a “reunification of Akwa Ibom with Nigeria” and a commitment to the welfare of the people under the APC’s banner.

This defection was part of a broader APC strategy to dominate the South-South geopolitical zone, traditionally a PDP stronghold.

The APC currently controls four out of the six states in the region, with Rivers and Bayelsa States still under PDP control but increasingly vulnerable to APC advances.

Akpabio has publicly predicted that Rivers and Bayelsa governors, Siminalayi Fubara and Douye Diri respectively, may soon defect to the APC, further solidifying the party’s grip on the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, Akpabio’s rising influence and his role in these defections have reportedly sparked internal opposition within the APC.

Political insiders suggest that a faction within the party is plotting to remove Akpabio from his Senate presidency, viewing his dominance and control over the South-South political realignment as a threat to other power brokers.

The alleged plot is gaining traction amid the shifting allegiances and the emergence of Governor Babagana Zulum as a key player in northern Nigeria’s political scene.

Zulum, known for his pragmatic leadership and influence in the North-East, is said to be orchestrating a defection movement that could see five northern governors, currently divided between the APC and PDP, defect to the ADC.

This move is perceived as a strategic attempt to create a formidable political bloc outside the traditional two-party system.

Analysts say it potentially weakening the APC’s northern base and complicating Akpabio’s ambitions for greater national influence.

The defection wave led by Zulum is also seen as a counterbalance to Akpabio’s dominance in the South-South.

Akpabio has been supposedly successful in leveraging defections to strengthen the APC’s position in the South-South.

On the other hand, Zulum’s efforts aim to consolidate opposition forces in the North, thereby challenging the APC’s hegemony and creating new political fault lines ahead of the 2027 elections.

The political tension is further heightened by the mixed reactions to the defections.

APC leaders, including Akpabio, praise the defectors for their commitment to progress and alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

On the other hand, critics within the PDP and civil society accuse the defectors of opportunism and abandoning democratic principles for personal political survival.

For instance, a PDP chieftain in Akwa Ibom described the defections as acts driven by greed and a desire to secure political power rather than ideological conviction.

Moreover, the defection of Governor Umo Eno was not without controversy, as some members of his former PDP camp, including his predecessor Emmanuel Udom, reportedly felt betrayed.

Nonetheless, Akpabio has remained vocal and confident, publicly supporting Eno and other defectors, underscoring the APC’s growing dominance in the region and its prospects for the upcoming elections.

In summary, the political fabric of Nigeria is undergoing a complex transformation marked by strategic defections and power struggles.

The plot to remove Senate President Godswill Akpabio appears intertwined with Governor Babagana Zulum’s initiative to lead northern governors out of the APC and PDP to the ADC, signaling a potential realignment of political forces.

This evolving scenario sets the stage for a fiercely contested 2027 general election, with both the APC and emerging opposition coalitions vying for control across Nigeria’s diverse geopolitical zones.

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