
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the ruling All Progressives Congress will face strong resistance from voters in the 2027 general election, despite the growing number of political defections to the party.
Atiku, now a member of the African Democratic Congress, made the statement while reacting to the defection of Ahmadu Fintiri, the governor of Adamawa State, from the opposition to the APC.
Fintiri announced his move in a statewide broadcast, saying the decision was taken in the interest of the state’s development. He said he joined the APC with members of his cabinet, party officials, and supporters across all local government areas.
Atiku said political defections do not necessarily reflect public opinion and warned against assuming that such moves guarantee electoral victory.
He said politicians are free to join any party but insisted that the 2027 election would ultimately be decided by Nigerians, not by political realignments.

According to him, many defections were driven by pressure rather than genuine support, and he accused the government of using state power to weaken opposition parties.
He added that hardship, unemployment, and insecurity remain major concerns for citizens, and said voters would base their decisions on their personal experiences.
Atiku urged Nigerians to remain focused on their long-term interests and not be influenced by political movements alone.
He said the election would offer citizens an opportunity to determine the country’s direction and leadership.
He also warned against vote-buying and encouraged voters to protect their future by making independent choices during the election.

His comments come amid rising political realignments as parties prepare for the 2027 general election, which is expected to be one of the most closely contested polls in recent years.