PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said he is expecting more members of opposition political parties to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, before the 2027 general elections, just as the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party adopted him as the sole candidate.

The endorsements from governors and lawmakers signal deep internal consensus within the APC, effectively eliminating internal challenges to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The move also comes as opposition forces are rumoured to be coalescing around a new platform, possibly the African Democratic Congress, ADC, prompting the APC to reinforce unity early.

It will be recalled that a wave of defections hit some opposition political parties including the Peoples Democratica Party, Labour Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and the PDP structure in the state, recently moved to the APC.

Similarly, six members of the House of Representatives announced their defections to the APC.

Also, while members of the Delta State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Mr. Emomotimi Guwor, formally defected from the PDP to the APC, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, two other lawmakers, Sunny Ifada and Yekini Idaiye and former council chairmen pitched their tents with the APC.

In Kano State, Senator Kawu Sumaila and some members of the House of Representatives moved from the NNPP to the ruling party.

However, President Tinubu yesterday, said that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of movement and association.

He also tacitly endorsed the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, describing him as a member of the think-tank team.