APC Governors: Their States, Achievements and Political Influence

Last checked: 13 October 2026. This article is a neutral explainer based on published reports. It does not endorse any party or candidate, and where accounts conflict it says so. Governors’ party affiliations changed repeatedly in the past year, so check an official source for the latest list.

State governors are the backbone of any Nigerian party. They control state budgets, shape who becomes a delegate, sit on the party’s National Executive Committee and decide, in practice, who contests for many elected offices. This article explains how many states the APC holds, which governors are most often discussed, what influence they have and how to judge their records fairly.

How many APC governors are there?

The answer depends on the date and the outlet. After Kano governor Abba Kabir Yusuf joined in January 2026, Legit.ng reported that the APC controlled 29 of 36 states. When Adamawa governor Ahmadu Fintiri joined on 27 February, TVC News put the figure at 30. Dubawa, a fact-checking site, said the correct number was 29 at that point, since the APC’s own website still listed only 28 and left out Taraba governor Agbu Kefas, who joined in December 2025. After Zamfara governor Dauda Lawal joined in March, BusinessDay reported that the party had 31 governors. A separate data site listed only 27 in September, but it also placed some defectors in the wrong party, so it should be treated with caution. The safest statement is that the party holds roughly 30 of the 36 governorships.

Who joined and when

Channels Television listed the PDP governors who moved to the APC as Peter Mbah of Enugu, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, with Plateau’s Caleb Mutfwang joining on 2 January 2026 after resigning from the PDP on 29 December 2025. Rivers governor Siminalayi Fubara was reported to have joined in December 2025, and Kefas of Taraba the same month. Governors outside the APC now include Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo in the PDP, along with one each from the Labour Party, APGA and the Accord Party, according to BusinessDay.

Why governors defect

The governors give their own reasons. Lawal cited the lingering crisis within the opposition and the interest of stability, progress and development in Zamfara. Yusuf said his return was anchored on working closer with the federal government under President Tinubu. Mutfwang cited the need for purposeful leadership, clarity of direction and effective service delivery. The PDP and others say the APC uses state resources and intimidation to attract defectors, which the APC denies, saying defections reflect its governance and the appeal of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The NNPP’s spokesman called the wave of defections shameful.

The governors’ influence inside the party

• National Executive Committee. Governors who are party members sit on the NEC alongside the president, vice president and state chairmen, according to Daily Trust, and the NEC can appoint a chairman between conventions.
• Convention committees. For the March 2026 convention, Hope Uzodimma of Imo chaired the committee, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara was vice chairman and Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe governor and former party chairman, was secretary, according to Within Nigeria.
• Chairmen. Reports in 2017 spoke of a group of governors seeking the removal of the chairman, and in 2023 the choice of Ganduje was backed by governors.
• Candidates. Analysis of the 2026 primaries said that in many states the outcome appeared settled before delegates voted, through defections, zoning and consensus agreements.

The 2027 governorship elections

INEC has scheduled governorship elections for 6 February 2027. The APC held primaries in 28 states, with eight states, including Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun, on different election calendars because of past court rulings. Some sitting governors who defected, such as Mbah of Enugu, were returned as the party’s sole candidate, while Kefas won his primary with 166,357 votes.

What about achievements?

Governors’ records are a matter of debate, and this article does not rank them. Judging a governor fairly means using evidence that anyone can check:

1. Budgets. Compare approved and actual spending on capital projects, health and education.
2. Revenue. Look at internally generated revenue and the state’s reliance on federal allocations.
3. Projects. Check whether claimed projects exist, are finished and are in use.
4. Security and services. Look at independent reports rather than government statements alone.
5. Audits. Read the state auditor’s reports and any independent budget analysis.

Governors and their parties will always present favourable figures, and opponents will emphasise failures. Independent budget trackers and audits are more reliable than speeches.

What the numbers mean for 2027

Having most governors helps a party with organisation, funds and local mobilisation. It does not guarantee votes. In 2023, Atiku won Kaduna even though the APC retained the governorship there, with 554,360 votes against 399,293 for Tinubu, according to The Sun. Opposition figures argue that voters unhappy with economic conditions will not follow governors, while APC leaders argue that governance and structure will decide the outcome.

What we could not confirm

• The exact number of APC governors today.
• The motives behind each defection beyond public statements.
• Comparative performance of governors, which requires independent data.

Frequently asked questions

How many states does the APC control? Roughly 30 of 36, depending on the source and date.

Which governors are not in the APC? They include those of Bauchi and Oyo (PDP), Anambra (APGA), Osun (Accord) and Abia (Labour Party).

When are the governorship elections? 6 February 2027.

Key takeaways

The APC holds most governorships after a wave of defections, and governors shape the party’s choices through the NEC, committees and delegates. Judge their records with budgets and audits instead of claims from either side.

Sources checked

• Dubawa, “APC has 29 governors, not 30 as claimed”
• BusinessDay, “PDP depletes, APC governors rise to 31 as Lawal joins fold”
• Channels Television, Legit.ng, TVC News and Pulse reports on defections
• Within Nigeria and Daily Trust on the convention and NEC
• Substack analysis of the 2026 governorship primaries; The Sun on Kaduna