Which Nigerian govnors still dey opposition parties as Kano Govnor Yusuf join APC

As at Monday 26 January, 2026, big political movement don reduce di number of govnors wey still dey opposition parties for Nigeria.

Dis dey come afta Kano State Govnor Abba Yusuf officially join di All Progressives Congress (APC) from di New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP).

Nigeria political scene show say power don really move go di ruling APC, as di party dey control most of di state govments across di kontri.

But still, some govnors never defect go di ruling party.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come second from far, wit govnors for small number of states. Even though PDP still get presence for some parts of Northeast, Northcentral and Southwest, di reduced number show say di party still dey struggle to regain di ground wey e lose since di last general elections.

Wit 30 govnors, APC remain di strongest political party among Nigeria 36 states. Di party control dey reach important economic centres and politically sensitive states like Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Kaduna and Kano.

PDP wey bifor dey control many states now get only four states, afta recent defections from Akwa Ibom, Delta, Enugu, Bayelsa, Taraba, Rivers and Plateau states.

Ahmadu Fintiri (PDP) - Adamawa State

Ahmadu Fintiri na di current Govnor of Adamawa State. E be strong member of PDP. E bin win di 2019 govnorship election and now dey serve second term.

E neva change political party bifor from start to now as e remain loyal member of PDP.

Govnor Fintiri don repeatedly reject rumours say e wan defect go APC. Official statements and im leadership role inside PDP don show say e be "bonafide" PDP member.

For first quarter media briefing of 2025, im Principal Special Adviser, Judge Kushi, tell di public make dem ignore claims say di govnor wan leave PDP, say Govnor "remain bonafide member of PDP and no dey leave".

Bala Muhammed (PDP) - Bauchi State

Bala Mohammed na di current govnor of Bauchi State. Dem declare am govnor on March 26, 2019. For dat hot election, Bala Mohammed, as PDP candidate, beat di den sitting govnor, Muhammed Abubakar of APC.

Govnor Mohammed don react to allegations of terrorism financing wey dem link to im administration. E describe di move by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as persecution and attempt to criminalise am bicos e refuse to defect to di APC.

Speaking on Wednesday for Bauchi while receiving award as Safety Ambassador from Safety Institute of Nigeria, di govnor complain say even though e get constitutional immunity, dem still mention im name for court papers related to di allegations.

E accuse EFCC and di federal govment say dem dey try intimidate am bicos e no gree join di ruling party.

"Dis na kontri wia if you work, you go becom villain. I don keep quiet for too long for peace and security. But I no be coward. I no go join dem. I refuse to join dia party [APC]" e tok.

Seyi Makinde (PDP) - Oyo State

Seyi Makinde na di current Govnor of Oyo State and e dey serve second term. E first win election for 2019 and later win landslide re-election for 2023.

E join PDP for 2010 to contest Senate seat for 2011 elections but e lose party primary. For late 2014, afta e fail to secure PDP govnorship ticket for 2015, e defect go SDP. E contest 2015 govnorship election under SDP and come third.

Later, e return go PDP and win di 2019 govnorship election.

For Thursday, 22 January 2026, Govnor Makinde meet President Bola Tinubu, as e tok say na to "discuss issues of govnance".

Makinde, wey pipo dey rumour say e dey eye PDP presidential ticket for 2027 general elections, tell State House journalists afta di meeting say e dey comfortable wit PDP and no get plan to leave di party.

Dauda Lawal (PDP) - Zamfara State

Dauda Lawal na di current govnor of Zamfara State. For March 2023, e beat di sitting govnor, Bello Matawalle, to win di govnorship election for Zamfara State.

For 9 June 2025, Govnor Lawal strongly reject calls make e comot from PDP go join APC. Di govnor take dis position afta former Zamfara govnor, Bello Matawalle, wey now be Minister of State for Defence, publicly ask am make e change party.

Di govnor media aide, Mustafa Kaura, tok say Lawal no go leave di party wey bring am to power.

"Some pipo dey spread rumour say Govnor Dauda Lawal wan leave PDP go APC. No atom of truth dey inside am. Make PDP supporters ignore am," Kaura tok.

Recently again, rumours come up about Govnor Dauda and possible defection to APC. But Zamfara State chapter of APC say dem see fake report, wey claim say Govnor Dauda Lawal don send letter come ask for APC membership.

Di party say di report dey bad, false, unfounded and na example of how some pipo dey mislead odas and cause confusion inside stable and peaceful party like APC.

For one statement, APC state publicity secretary, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau, say di party get proper channels wia dem dey do tins in a guided way.

Ademola Adeleke (Accord) - Osun State

Ademola Adeleke na di current govnor of Osun State, southwest Nigeria.

For one major political move, e recently change party. Adeleke bin be long-time PDP member, wia e bin win Senate seat for 2017 and govnorship for 2022.

But bicos of "persistent leadership wahala" inside national PDP, e formally resign from PDP for November 2025 and join Accord (A).

Charles Soludo (Apga) - Anambra State

Charles Soludo na di current govnor of Anambra State, and e bin recently win re-election for second term.

Soludo don change parties bifor. E first contest Anambra govnorship for 2010 under PDP. E resign from PDP for 2013 and join di All Progressives Grand Alliance (Apga), wia e don remain since, winning first term for 2021 and second term for November 2025.

Alex Otti (Labour Party) - Abia State

Alex Otti dey serve im first term as Govnor of Abia State. Otti don move between parties. E first contest govnorship for 2015 and 2019 under Apga.

E later briefly join APC bifor e defect go Labour Party for May 2022, wia e win Abia State 2023 govnorship election.