Peoples Democratic Party chieftain Segun Sowunmi has dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress is coercing opposition politicians into defecting, describing such arguments as intellectually lazy and politically convenient.

The former spokesman to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar made this assertion in an article titled “Democracy Is Not an Entitlement: A Response to the Alarmism Ahead of 2027,” published on X on Tuesday.

Sowunmi was responding to concerns that Nigeria’s democracy faces existential threats following a wave of high-profile defections to the ruling party, including Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent departure from the New Nigeria People’s Party.

The PDP stalwart argued that democracy should not be evaluated based on how comfortable or successful political actors feel, but rather on whether citizens retain the fundamental power to choose their leaders through periodic elections.

“By any serious standard, democracy is measured not by how comfortable political actors feel but by whether citizens retain the power to choose their leaders,” Sowunmi wrote.

He added that warnings about Nigeria drifting toward a democracy without genuine competition were rooted in a fundamental misreading of democratic principles and the country’s actual political reality.

Sowunmi emphasized that ruling parties bear no constitutional or moral obligation to ensure the survival or competitiveness of opposition parties, stating that political relevance must be earned through superior organization, messaging and service delivery.

“Democracy does not impose a duty on a ruling party to preserve its opponents. Parties earn competitiveness; they are not entitled to it,” the PDP chieftain declared.

The statement represents a departure from typical opposition rhetoric, which often attributes mass defections to intimidation, financial inducements or deliberate strategies to undermine multi-party democracy.

Sowunmi’s position aligns with his earlier comments dismissing concerns raised by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who warned in December 2025 that the country was drifting toward single-party dominance.

The PDP chieftain had told Punch that there was no agenda to transform Nigeria into a one-party state, adding that President Bola Tinubu would never pursue such a destructive path given his democratic credentials and political history.

“There is no agenda anywhere that can make this country a one-party state. And I know that the president can never be dreaming such a dream,” Sowunmi stated during that interview.

Despite defending the democratic legitimacy of defections, Sowunmi has maintained his commitment to the PDP while acknowledging the party faces significant internal challenges that must be addressed before the 2027 elections.

In multiple interviews, he has expressed confidence that the PDP possesses sufficient grassroots support and institutional memory to remain competitive, describing the party as a 27-year political asset that cannot be easily dismissed.

However, Sowunmi has also been candid about the possibility of leaving the PDP if the party’s internal crises persist, stating in June 2025 that he would have no hesitation joining the APC if convinced it served the national interest.

“If I am going to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president in 2027, by God and everything that is in me, I’ll leave and join his party,” he declared during an appearance on Arise Television.

The political strategist’s nuanced position reflects the complex calculations facing opposition figures as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, with many weighing loyalty to struggling parties against the pragmatic benefits of alignment with the ruling administration.

Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin has warmly welcomed Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf into the All Progressives Congress, pledging cooperation and unity for the development of Kano State despite underlying political tensions over the 2027 gubernatorial contest.

Senator Barau was among the high-profile dignitaries who witnessed Governor Yusuf’s formal defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party at an elaborate ceremony held on Monday at the Coronation Hall of the Government House in Kano.

The Deputy Senate President stood alongside former APC National Chairman and immediate past Kano Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Senator Kawu Sumaila, members of the National Assembly from Kano State, and other party stakeholders as the governor officially announced his political realignment with the ruling party.

According to reports from the ceremony, Governor Yusuf commended both Ganduje and Barau for their support during the defection process, acknowledging their roles in facilitating his return to the APC where he had previously been a member in 2014.

The visible show of unity between Barau and the governor at Monday’s event represents a significant political development, especially given widespread speculation about the Deputy Senate President’s own gubernatorial ambitions for 2027.

Political observers had anticipated potential friction between Yusuf and Barau following the governor’s demands for an automatic ticket for the next election, a condition that reportedly delayed his defection for several weeks as APC leadership refused to provide written guarantees.

Sources within the party revealed that Barau, who commands considerable grassroots support and institutional influence within Kano APC structures, has not abandoned his plans to contest the governorship in 2027, setting the stage for a potential showdown within the party.

However, during Monday’s ceremony, both leaders demonstrated political maturity by prioritizing party cohesion and the collective interests of Kano State over personal ambitions, at least publicly.

The APC State Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas Sanusi, has emphasized that the party will ensure unity between new members joining with Governor Yusuf and existing party structures, with strategic discussions planned to manage competing interests ahead of the 2027 primaries.

Governor Yusuf was received into the APC alongside 22 state lawmakers led by Speaker Jibril Ismail Falgore, eight federal legislators, all 44 local government chairmen, and 484 councilors, marking one of the most significant political realignments in northern Nigeria ahead of the next general elections.

The mass defection delivers a devastating blow to the NNPP, stripping the party of its only governorship seat and potentially reducing its viability as a national political platform.

The governor defended his decision during the ceremony, stating that rejoining the APC would strengthen cooperation with the Federal Government, accelerate infrastructural development, enhance security coordination, and improve service delivery across Kano State.

He described the move as a choice of progress over pride, development over stagnation, and stability over partisan interests, emphasizing that governance should not be constrained by party affiliation but driven by policies and alliances that benefit the people.

Despite the public display of unity, political analysts warn that Governor Yusuf faces significant challenges ahead as he navigates competing power blocs within the Kano APC, particularly those loyal to Ganduje and Barau, both of whom wield substantial influence within the party structures.

President Bola Tinubu departed Abuja on Monday, January 26, for an official state visit to the Republic of Türkiye aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and expanding economic ties between both nations.

The visit, announced by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, represents a reciprocal engagement following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official trip to Nigeria in October 2021.

During the high-level engagements, President Tinubu and President Erdoğan will hold strategic political and diplomatic discussions focusing on shared priorities in finance, communication, trade and investment, with the goal of significantly expanding economic collaboration between the two countries.

The agenda includes meetings between senior officials from both nations and the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding covering scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation and diplomatic protocol.

A Nigeria-Türkiye business forum will bring together investors from both countries to explore new investment opportunities and strengthen private-sector partnerships across key economic sectors.

Members of the presidential delegation include Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Attorney General Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Mohammed Mohammed.

Other officials on the entourage are Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, and House Committee on Defence Chairman Jimi Benson.

The visit builds on an already substantial relationship between Nigeria and Türkiye, with bilateral trade currently exceeding one billion dollars annually. Both governments have formally set an ambitious target to expand trade to five billion dollars as part of broader economic diversification strategies.

In 2024, Turkish exports to Nigeria reached approximately 721 million dollars, while Nigerian exports to Türkiye totaled about 505 million dollars, demonstrating growing commercial exchanges between the two nations.

Beyond trade, the Nigeria-Türkiye partnership has taken tangible shape across multiple sectors including healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture and defence cooperation, moving beyond diplomatic pronouncements to practical collaboration.

Türkiye’s strategic geographic position straddling Europe and Asia, combined with its industrial capacity and security capabilities, makes it an important partner for Nigeria’s efforts to diversify international partnerships and strengthen economic resilience.

The visit also reflects Nigeria’s broader strategy of recalibrating partnerships toward countries that combine strategic geography, industrial depth and pragmatic diplomacy, positioning the nation as Africa’s gateway to global markets.

President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the state visit, with implementation of signed agreements set to commence shortly thereafter.