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The wave of high-profile defections into the All Progressives Congress (APC) has widened, with Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, reportedly registering as a member of the ruling party, weeks after Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, made a similar move.
The development has intensified political conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as both defections involve members of families long associated with opposition politics.
AFRIPOST reports that the moves underscore the APC’s aggressive expansion strategy and growing appeal among political heavyweights.
Reports indicate that Iyabo Obasanjo completed her APC membership registration in Ogun State, marking a return to active partisan politics after years away from the frontline.
A former senator who once represented Ogun Central, she previously built her political career under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reacting to the development, a senior APC chieftain in Ogun described her entry as “symbolic and strategic,” noting that her political experience could strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation in the South-West.
“Her decision sends a strong message that the APC remains open and attractive to experienced leaders,” the party official said.
Earlier, Abba Atiku Abubakar had publicly announced his defection to the APC, pledging support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its reform agenda.
He said his decision was driven by what he described as the need to contribute to national stability and economic recovery from within the ruling party.
However, the twin defections have drawn mixed reactions from opposition figures, some of whom argue that personal political choices should not be interpreted as a collective family or ideological shift.
A PDP source maintained that “individual decisions do not erase the broader disagreements many Nigerians still have with the APC.”
Meanwhile, political analysts believe the optics of both Atiku’s son and Obasanjo’s daughter aligning with the APC could influence voter perception, especially among undecided blocs.
According to Lagos-based analyst Kunle Adeyemi, “These moves may not automatically translate into votes, but they reshape narratives and momentum as parties position for 2027.”
As preparations for the next election cycle gradually gather pace, the APC appears keen on consolidating gains from recent defections, while opposition parties brace for further political realignments in the months ahead.