The All Progressives Congress intensified its 2027 election push on Thursday night as six former governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party made a joint appearance at the ruling party’s National Caucus meeting, signalling a deepening realignment within Nigeria’s political space.
Their presence at the high-level gathering underscored the APC’s growing confidence ahead of the next general elections, with party insiders describing the turnout as a strategic boost to internal cohesion and nationwide outreach.
Those in attendance included Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba.
The meeting marked their first formal caucus engagement since their defection from the PDP.
A party source familiar with the discussions said the development reflected a broader recalibration within opposition ranks.
“What we witnessed is not just attendance; it is a statement of intent about where the political momentum is heading,” the source said.
Adding further weight to the shift were former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, ex–Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, and former Senate President Ken Nnamani, all of whom had previously occupied influential positions in the PDP before aligning with the APC.
Senior government officials were also well represented. Vice President Kashim Shettima led the federal delegation, joined by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
According to a party official, the broad attendance reflected a deliberate effort to project unity across the executive and legislative arms.
“The leadership wants a common front as preparations gradually begin for 2027,” the official said.
Serving and former APC governors, members of the party’s National Working Committee, and other key stakeholders filled the hall, while representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission attended in an observer capacity, reinforcing the formal nature of the session.
President Bola Tinubu later arrived at the venue, drawing the closed-door meeting to its most pivotal phase.
Party leaders, however, maintained that the gathering was focused on internal consolidation rather than immediate campaign activity.
Nevertheless, political observers note that the optics of former PDP powerbrokers sitting at the APC’s highest decision-making table could reshape alignments ahead of the next electoral cycle, hence placing the ruling party in a stronger strategic position going forward.