Barely 24 hours after the entire political structure in Delta state defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Chairman of the governing Party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has predicted that more Governors will join the party.

He also expressed confidence that the 2027 general elections is a done deal for the ruling party.

He spoke on Thursday in his residence in Abuja when he received some prominent members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Kano State led by Sen. Kawu Sumaila and the immediate past Secretary to Kano State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi who defected to the APC

Other deflectors include serving and former members of House of Representatives and House of Assembly. 

Addressing reporter after a two-and-half hour meeting with the new entrants Ganduje said: “In APC, we believe in our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we believe in his economic reforms, we believe in his Renewed Hope Agenda and part of the political renewed hope agenda is trying to canvass for more followership into the party.

“We started by democratically electing governors, especially in Edo State, who was in PDP, we contested, we succeeded in winning the election, the state is now in APC.

“Now, there is another channel that has been opened through advocacy, through dialogue, through convincing some highly and even elected governors to come into the party. And you can see what has happened now.

“The Governor of Delta State is now in APC, including his cabinet, including all the members of the state assembly and House of Representatives, and the timber and caliber of PDP, now in APC, even including the former vice presidential candidate coming into our party.

“So you can see that we are expanding. I don’t want to reveal our secret but what I’m telling you is that for APC 2027 is a done deal.” 

Asked to confirm the rumours of more Governors joining the APC, Ganduje answered: “Yes more governors are coming into APC, I assure you and places where we have election, APC Insha’Allah will win those elections.”

Sumaila, the leader of the defectors, said they have formally come to declare their membership of the ruling APC and pledged to work for the success of the party in the State and at the national level.

On the impact of their defection on APC, the Senator said: “I will refer you to 2023 general election. Go and check the results. I mean the presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives elections where we contested the same day, the same polling unit with Kwankwaso. That will give you the answer to your question.

The other new members from Kano aside the leaders, include: Kabiru Alhasan Rurmum, representing Rano/Kibiya in Federal House of Representatives; Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo; Rt. Hon. Zubairu Hamza Massu, member Kano Assembly; Dr. A B. Baffa Bichi, former Secretary to the State Government; Hon. Mohd Digol, a former Commissioner; Hon. Abbas S. Abbas, a former Commissioner; Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal, a former governorship candidate; Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta,and Hon. Idris Dankuwa, former members House of Representatives.