In a move that could reshape political alignments ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, former Vice President Namadi Sambo has officially defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development was confirmed on Wednesday by APC chieftain Imran Muhammad via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Sambo’s defection was formalised through the party’s Kaduna State chapter.
Sambo, who served as Vice President under President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, has largely maintained a low profile since leaving office. His return to the political scene through the APC suggests renewed interest in shaping Kaduna State’s political future and possibly influencing national discourse as the 2027 elections approach.
Party defections have long been a hallmark of Nigeria’s ever-shifting political terrain, often driven by the quest for influence, access to state resources, and strategic relevance. While many defections traditionally flow from the opposition to the ruling party, since 2015, a new trend has emerged—coalitions of defectors coming together to challenge incumbents. The APC itself was born out of such a coalition, which ended the PDP’s 16-year hold on power in the 2015 elections.
Sambo’s move follows the older pattern of joining the ruling party, but it also speaks to the wider wave of political repositioning already underway as various power blocs begin to realign ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 race.
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