Fresh details have emerged regarding an alleged covert agreement between President Bola Tinubu and several Southern State governors, a plot reportedly intended to consolidate control over Nigeria’s political landscape before the next general elections. Sources suggest that the agreement centres on conducting all presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative elections in a single day, with the polls allegedly shifted to November 2026. This reported understanding is said to be the driving force behind the recent wave of defections by prominent Southern politicians, including governors, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The mass exodus from opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has seen major shifts in the political control of Southern states. Notably, Delta State’s Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, and commissioners left the PDP, which had dominated the state since 1999, to join the APC in April 2025. This move was followed by the defection of Oborevwori’s predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, further strengthening the APC’s position. Enugu State’s Governor Peter Mbah and the Bayelsa State Governor also reportedly switched allegiance to the APC in similar high-profile moves, moves that have been described by some ruling party figures as a “political tsunami.”
Insiders revealed that the core of the alleged bargain involves President Tinubu’s assurance to the governors seeking re-election that their return to office would be guaranteed if they crossed over to the APC. In exchange for this support, the governors are said to have proposed either the consolidation of all elections into a single day or conducting the presidential election last to prevent post-election conflicts or ‘betrayals’ among political allies. The sources claim that President Tinubu accepted the proposal for a one-day election, moving the general polls from the customary February-March timeline to November 2026.
Further complicating the reported plan are alleged proposed changes to the electoral process, specifically concerning the transmission of results. Sources indicate that the agreement includes doing away with the electronic transmission of results directly from polling units, a key feature introduced for transparency under the 2022 Electoral Act. Instead, results would reportedly be transmitted only from collation centres, a change that critics suggest could open the door for easier manipulation at the state level.
These developments have reportedly caused a major conflict between the current administration and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu. According to Presidency sources, Professor Yakubu declined an offer for a tenure extension, which was reportedly intended to secure his cooperation with the 2026 election plan. His subsequent actions, including recognising the takeover of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and moving to register new political parties, are said to have angered powerful figures in President Tinubu’s inner circle, leading to intense pressure and his abrupt resignation from the Commission. Professor Joash Amupitan was later confirmed by the Senate as the new INEC Chairman.
