Defence Minister Hints At APC Move As Political Realignments Gather Pace
Nigeria’s ruling party may soon gain another high-profile figure, as the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has openly signalled his intention to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing himself as being “in transition” politically.
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, the retired general, who previously served as Chief of Defence Staff, said he had not fully crossed over into partisan politics but made his inclination clear.
Asked if he was now a politician, Musa replied: “I’ve not transitioned yet. I’m in transition.”
When pressed on whether he was already a member of the APC, he added: “Not yet, but I think I’ll be.
Definitely. The APC has given me the platform to present myself right from when I was CDS till date, so why not?”
The 58-year-old minister also pledged unwavering loyalty to Bola Tinubu, stressing that the President deserves full backing.
According to him, he is ready to support the administration in every possible way, including backing Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
Musa, who served as the 18th Chief of Defence Staff from June 23, 2023, until his retirement on October 30, 2025, was sworn in as Minister of Defence on December 4, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
His comments come amid a sustained wave of defections to the APC since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, a trend that intensified through 2025 and into 2026.
Several governors have crossed over from opposition parties, including Abba Yusuf of Kano (NNPP) and PDP governors Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).
Most recently, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State also defected from the PDP to the APC, pushing the number of APC-controlled states to 29 and fuelling debate over the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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