Crisis Brews in Niger APC as Ex-Commissioners, Lawmakers Plot Mass Defection

A fresh political crisis appears to be brewing within the Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with several former commissioners, ex-special advisers, serving lawmakers, and grassroots leaders reportedly preparing to defect from the ruling party.

Sources familiar with the development told reporters in Minna on Friday that consultations among the aggrieved stakeholders have intensified in recent weeks following dissatisfaction with the outcome of the party’s internal processes and what they described as the marginalisation of long-serving loyalists.

According to the sources, those involved in the planned defection include former commissioners who served under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, former appointees of ex-Governor and current Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, serving members of the Niger State House of Assembly who lost the party’s recent primaries, and a large number of grassroots mobilisers across the state.

One of the key figures in the emerging coalition, who spoke on condition of anonymity and hails from Suleja Emirate, said the group would unveil its next line of action after the APC releases the authentic list of its candidates.

According to the source, the planned political move would “shake the very foundation of the party” in Niger State and reinforce the belief that “politics belongs to the people, not to a single individual.”

“The aggrieved stakeholders are determined to prove that no one person has a monopoly over the political future of the state,” the source said.

The source further disclosed that the coalition had been engaging influential political stakeholders and grassroots structures across Niger State’s 25 local government areas, expressing confidence that the movement would gain significant momentum once officially announced.

Political observers believe the planned defections, if carried out, could significantly alter the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, given the influence many of the affected figures wield within their constituencies.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Niger State APC leadership were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.

Analysts say any mass defection by prominent party figures could pose a major challenge to the APC’s internal cohesion and electoral strategy in Niger State as preparations for the 2027 polls gather pace.