The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of offering money, political appointments and other incentives to lure its candidates into defecting to the ruling party.
The NDC also announced plans to conduct fresh congresses to elect replacement candidates in constituencies affected by the defections.
Osa Director, national publicity secretary of the NDC, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, accusing the APC of attempting to weaken the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The NDC is fully aware of the desperate and malicious tactics of the APC, which has resorted to offering money, political appointments, and other material incentives to induce some money-minded candidates of our party to jump ship and defect to its sinking fold,” the statement read.
The party said it was not worried about the defections, insisting that those who had left lacked its values and ideological commitment.
“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.
“To them, we say good riddance to bad rubbish, and we wish them luck in their political misadventures.”
Director said the party would conduct fresh congresses to select replacement candidates in the affected constituencies, citing provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
He urged members and supporters not to be discouraged by the development, alleging that the APC was attempting to weaken the NDC by inducing its candidates to defect.
“These are the last kicks of a dying horse that has seen the handwriting on the wall of its imminent defeat,” he said.
The NDC spokesperson added that the party remained committed to providing Nigerians with good governance, security and prosperity.
NDC candidates defect to APC
The statement comes amid reports of defections involving candidates and members of opposition parties.
Although the NDC did not name the candidates it accused the APC of attempting to lure away, the statement came less than 24 hours after Ibrahim Kashim, the party’s governorship candidate in Bauchi State, announced his resignation.
In a resignation letter dated October 16, 2026, and addressed to the NDC chairman in Bauchi Local Government Area, Kashim said his decision followed “careful reflection”.
He added that his resignation did not diminish his commitment to the political struggle for a better Bauchi State.
Kashim did not disclose his next political move, although reports have suggested that he could join the APC in the coming weeks.
The NDC has also lost Rufai Hanga, senator representing Kano Central, who resigned from the party on August 3 before formally joining the APC on September 6.
Hanga, who serves as deputy minority whip of the Senate, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the NDC chairman in Najeriya Ward, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
In addition, some House of Representatives and state House of Assembly candidates of the NDC and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Taraba, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Plateau states reportedly defected to the APC in recent days.
