The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using money, political appointments and other incentives to lure its candidates into defecting ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party said it had noticed the APC’s “desperate and malicious tactics” aimed at weakening its ranks. It alleged that some “money-minded” candidates had been bribed to abandon the NDC for what it called a “sinking” ruling party.

The statement was titled “Defection of Some Compromised Candidates to APC: Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish.”

The NDC played down the exits, saying those who left lack the values and ideological commitment the party stands for. It described the defections as “the last kicks of a dying horse” that has seen the handwriting on the wall of its defeat.

It urged members, supporters and Nigerians not to be discouraged and said it remains committed to rescuing the country from what it called the grip of those in power.

The party said it would immediately hold fresh congresses to elect new candidates in the affected constituencies, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026. Some of those who left had already been cleared to contest the 2027 elections on the NDC platform.

According to reports, 12 NDC candidates have defected so far, comprising nine House of Representatives candidates and three State House of Assembly candidates.

The NDC is not the only party affected. Candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have also been moving to the APC in recent weeks.

The APC recently received 11 House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates from the ADC and NDC at its national secretariat in Abuja. It also received 12 ADC Assembly candidates about two weeks earlier. The APC leadership welcomed the defectors, with its national secretary, Senator Surajudeen Basiru, describing the move as support for the party’s commitment to national progress.

The NDC has been losing members to the APC for some time. In September, allies of its vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, defected to the APC in Kano.

They included a former state deputy chairman of the party and a state Assembly aspirant. The latest allegation comes as the opposition and the ruling party step up their mobilisation ahead of the 2027 polls, with the NDC’s claim of inducement yet to be publicly answered by the APC.