The Chairman of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Mr John Gabaya, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, citing the need for stronger collaboration with the Federal Government and a desire to reposition himself politically ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gabaya announced the move in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ernest Agada, saying the decision followed “fervent prayers and wide consultations” with stakeholders and was carried out in strict compliance with the constitutional provisions of both parties.
The chairman, who was first elected on the PDP platform in 2019 and is currently rounding out his second tenure, which ends in June, said the move was aimed at boosting council development through closer federal partnerships while making a significant political realignment ahead of 2027.
“I have wholeheartedly embraced the APC as a platform for advancing peace, unity, and development in Bwari Area Council, Abuja. It is for better collaboration with the Federal Government to ensure long-term council development, and this was followed by extensive consultations with stakeholders,” Gabaya said.
The political motivation behind the switch is clear. Gabaya is currently seeking election to the House of Representatives for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the 2027 polls, and is making no secret of the fact that joining the ruling party at the federal level is central to that ambition. He expressed confidence that the council would “deliver overwhelming support for President Bola Tinubu” and prayed for a peaceful and credible election in 2027.
Despite the defection, Gabaya was careful to avoid burning bridges. He paid tribute to those who worked for his emergence as council chairman under the PDP, appreciating their resilience, commitment, and sacrifice, and stressed that his departure should not be interpreted as hostility toward his former party. “My defection does not translate to enmity, but rather a broader perspective towards the collective interest in the council’s development,” he said.
The defection arrives against a backdrop of intense political realignment in the FCT ahead of next year’s elections. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had earlier publicly declared that he would support only candidates who align with President Tinubu’s vision, irrespective of party affiliation, a statement widely seen as a signal to opposition figures across the territory’s six area councils that their political futures lay with the ruling party.
Gabaya’s switch adds to a steady stream of opposition figures crossing to the APC in the FCT and across the country as the 2027 electoral season intensifies — and as Tinubu’s political machine consolidates its grip on the territory where Nigeria’s seat of power is located.