APC, PDP Brace for Fierce 2027 Election Battle as Leadership Realignments Intensify

Less than two years to Nigeria’s pivotal 2027 general election, the country’s two leading political parties—the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—have reignited a fierce contest for control of the nation’s highest office. Both camps held strategic National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings in Abuja on Thursday, unveiling bold leadership changes and electoral strategies aimed at consolidating influence and broadening support bases ahead of the critical vote.

For the APC, the NEC ratified the appointment of Professor Yilwatda Nentawe, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, as the party’s substantive National Chairman. His emergence, following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje, marks a tactical repositioning within the party’s top echelon. Endorsed by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and elected after a “yay-or-nay” vote, Yilwatda’s assumption of leadership is being framed as a rallying call for grassroots mobilization and party expansion.

“We are the mechanics; the party is a vehicle,” Yilwatda said metaphorically in his inaugural speech. “We will fix it, drive it, and get to our destination—2027.”

He promised to unify the party, strengthen its internal structures, and execute the “Renewed Hope” agenda, the ideological anchor of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Expressing confidence in the APC’s prospects, Yilwatda declared 2027 “a done deal” for the party, highlighting plans to welcome defectors and reinforce the party’s dominance across Nigeria.

President Tinubu, who attended the NEC meeting, also offered a blunt assessment of current challenges and issued a call to action. Acknowledging lingering grassroots discontent, the president urged governors to “wet the grass more,” signaling the need for increased engagement and delivery of services at the local level. He reaffirmed his commitment to food sovereignty, economic stability, and national security—areas that will undoubtedly shape campaign narratives in 2027.

The president also tasked party leaders with infrastructural legacy projects, including building a new party secretariat in Abuja. In a show of political muscle, Tinubu welcomed new entrants to the APC, including Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), as well as former PDP vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa—defections that signal the APC’s ongoing expansion strategy.

In contrast, the PDP used its 101st NEC meeting to regroup and reaffirm its role as the main opposition force. Governors, National Assembly members, and party leaders convened to lay down a roadmap for the upcoming 2025 elective convention and beyond. Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Bala Mohammed led calls for discipline, unity, and purpose within the party’s ranks.

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“Indiscipline is what brought us all the problems,” he stated, adding that the party is now “intact” and ready to give the APC “a run for their money.”

Governor Mohammed stressed that personal ambition must give way to party unity, especially with several high-profile members having defected to the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition. Notable defectors include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and media personality Dele Momodu. Still, Mohammed remained confident that PDP, with its enduring structure and brand recognition, will drive any opposition alliance going forward.

PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, echoed this sentiment and dismissed the ADC-led coalition as “an ill-fated political experiment.” He reported that many of the initial defectors were already retracing their steps, underscoring the resilience and appeal of the PDP as a national platform.

“The PDP remains the only party with the legacy, structure, and national reach capable of reclaiming the presidency in 2027,” Damagum said, as he urged unity among party members and encouraged internal reconciliation.

The NEC also announced a major calendar shift, postponing its elective national convention from August to November 15–16, 2025, now scheduled to take place in Ibadan. This delay, according to PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, allows the party ample time to finalize internal reforms and prepare for a transparent convention. NEC approved the formation of both zoning and convention committees and directed the National Chairman and Secretary to formally notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

NEC further resolved to pursue legal avenues to recover legislative seats from PDP defectors, citing Sections 68 and 109 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which disqualify members who switch party allegiance without a division or merger.

At the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, representing BoT Chair Adolphus Wabara, highlighted the importance of the November convention, calling it a decisive moment that could attract defectors back to the party and solidify the PDP’s national position.

Senator Bukola Saraki, who leads the PDP’s Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, hailed the peaceful NEC session as a sign that the party is on the path to restoration. He expressed optimism that the groundwork laid would ensure a successful convention and a reinvigorated party structure heading into 2027.

Meanwhile, party leaders including Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) reaffirmed their loyalty and commitment to the PDP’s vision of national renewal.

As both APC and PDP gear up for what may be Nigeria’s most consequential election since 1999, political realignments are intensifying, defections are reshaping loyalties, and leadership transformations are defining strategic trajectories. The battle lines are now clearly drawn—with leadership at the core of each party’s 2027 ambition.