Mass defection looms in Niger APC, as former appointees plan exit

A major crisis appears to be unfolding within the Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as several former commissioners, ex-special advisers, and serving lawmakers are reportedly preparing to leave the ruling party.

Sources familiar with the development revealed on Friday in Minna that consultations among the aggrieved stakeholders had intensified in recent weeks.

This brewing discontent follows the outcome of the party’s internal processes and the alleged marginalization of long-serving loyalists.

According to these sources, those involved in the planned exit include former commissioners who served under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, appointees from the administration of former 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 mobilizers.

A key figure in the planned movement from the Suleja Emirate, who requested anonymity, stated that the group’s next line of action would be unveiled after the APC releases the authentic list of its candidates.

This source claimed that the upcoming development would shake the very foundation of the party in Niger State and demonstrate that politics belongs to the people, rather than a single individual.

The anonymous stakeholder further alleged that the aggrieved party members are determined to prove that no single person holds a monopoly over the political future of the state.

Additionally, the source claimed that the coalition has been engaging influential political stakeholders and grassroots structures across the state’s 25 local government areas, expressing confidence that the movement will attract significant support once it is formally unveiled.

Political observers noted that such a development could reshape the political landscape in Niger State ahead of the 2027 general elections, given the significant influence many of the affected individuals command within their constituencies.

If these planned defections materialize, analysts warn they could have far-reaching implications for the APC’s internal cohesion and electoral strategy in the state.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain official comments from the Niger State APC leadership were unsuccessful.