By Isaac Mission
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its readiness to receive and integrate more than 10,000 new members expected to defect from opposition parties into its fold.
The prospective defectors are members of the Maji Johnson Bello (MJB) Movement, drawn from political parties including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The development followed a recent visit by the executive members of the movement to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as preparations intensify for the formal defection ceremony.
The MJB Movement said its decision to join the ruling party was part of its broader political mobilisation strategy and that it intended to use its grassroots network to strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, his Personal Private Secretary, Jibrin Bancir, described the planned defection as a major boost to the party.
Bancir said the APC was encouraged by the movement's grassroots presence, organisational structure and political network, adding that the party was prepared to accommodate members who were committed to its objectives.
He assured the incoming members that arrangements would be made for their smooth incorporation into the party's structures, particularly at the grassroots.
According to him, the new entrants would be expected to actively participate in party activities rather than simply register as members.
He said the integration process would begin at the ward level and extend through local government, state and national structures.
Bancir also encouraged the MJB Movement to sustain its mobilisation efforts, assuring its leadership of the APC's institutional support during the transition.
Movement backs Tinubu's reforms
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the MJB Movement, Bello, said the decision to align with the APC was based on the group's assessment of President Bola Tinubu's economic reform programme.
He said the movement believed the reforms offered a realistic route towards addressing Nigeria's economic difficulties and creating the conditions for long-term growth.
Bello stressed that the planned defection was not motivated solely by political interests, but by what he described as a deliberate decision to support efforts aimed at repositioning the Nigerian economy.
He said the movement had examined the country's current situation and concluded that the Tinubu administration's policies deserved support from Nigerians seeking a stronger and more prosperous nation.
The chairman disclosed that the movement would deploy its grassroots structures to mobilise more Nigerians in support of the APC and President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
He described the planned influx of members as the beginning of a wider mobilisation campaign, saying the movement would continue to expand its reach across communities and strengthen the ruling party's structures.
The proposed defection is expected to further intensify political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.