NDC Fires Back at APC Over Defections, Moves to Replace Candidates Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to conduct fresh party congresses to replace candidates who have defected from its ranks, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using financial inducements, political appointments and other benefits to attract its members.

The opposition party said the defections would not derail its preparations for the 2027 general elections, insisting that it remained determined to challenge the APC and present Nigerians with an alternative political platform.

The party’s position was conveyed in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director. He said the NDC would immediately begin the process of selecting replacement candidates in constituencies affected by the defections.

According to the party, some of its candidates had been persuaded to abandon its platform through offers of money, political positions and other material benefits. The NDC described the alleged inducements as deliberate attempts to weaken its ranks ahead of the next general election.

However, the party did not publicly identify all the candidates allegedly involved or provide specific evidence to substantiate its claims against the APC. The allegations therefore remain the NDC’s account of the circumstances surrounding the defections.

In a strongly worded response, the party questioned the commitment of those who had left, arguing that their decisions demonstrated a lack of loyalty to its principles and ideological foundation. It dismissed the departing candidates as individuals who, in its view, were never genuinely committed to the party.

“For those who have fallen for this bait, it is clear that they lack the values, virtues, and ideological commitment associated with our great party. They were never truly of us,” the statement said, adding that the party wished them luck in their political endeavours.

The NDC said it would organise fresh congresses to select credible, competent and trustworthy candidates for the affected constituencies. It cited the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, as the basis for its proposed replacement process, although the applicable legal requirements and procedures would determine how the process must be carried out.

The party also appealed to its members, supporters and Nigerians sympathetic to its political agenda not to be discouraged by the development. It accused the APC of attempting to undermine opposition parties through inducements, while expressing confidence that the defections would not prevent it from pursuing its political objectives.

Describing the defections as evidence of what it considered the ruling party’s growing anxiety about the next election, the NDC predicted that the APC would face defeat in 2027. It reiterated its stated commitment to improving governance, strengthening national security and promoting economic prosperity, declaring that it intended to offer Nigerians a credible alternative.

The latest development adds to the political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties work to retain their candidates, consolidate their support bases and position themselves for the contest. Whether the NDC’s planned congresses will successfully fill the affected positions remains to be seen, while the APC’s response to the allegations will be important in clarifying the dispute.