Two serving members of the House of Representatives and a former federal lawmaker have joined the Action People’s Party (APP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Politics Nigeria reports that the defectors are Boma Goodhead, representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency of Rivers State; Alozie Ikechi, representing Obingwa/Ugwunagbo/Osisioma Federal Constituency of Abia State; and Uju Chima, a former member representing Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema/Oru West Federal Constituency of Imo State.
An APP chieftain and member of the House representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, disclosed this in a statement, saying the three politicians had been listed as the party’s candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections.
While Goodhead and Ikechi are currently serving in the House, Chima is a former member of the chamber.
Ugochinyere welcomed the politicians into the APP, describing the party as a platform for independent-minded politicians seeking to depart from what he called the old ways of doing politics.
“Our party is excited to have great democratic fighters like you in our midst,” he said.
He added, “APP is a political home for independent-minded, new-generation politicians seeking to change old ways for a new way that is dominated by the people’s interests.”
The development comes as political parties intensify efforts to strengthen their ranks ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ugochinyere himself joined the APP in January after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party.
The APP defections also come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly contests, with politicians and interest groups positioning themselves for the elections.
Separately, more than 500 Muslim women scholars, preachers and Da’wah leaders from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
The women, under the aegis of the Muslim Intellectuals Forum, announced their support at an engagement meeting in Kaduna on Sunday.
They cited what they described as the Tinubu administration’s achievements in education, security, infrastructure and economic development as reasons for backing his re-election.
This was contained in a communiqué read by Aisha Iliyasu Tukur from Jigawa State at the end of the meeting.
The women said continuity in government would allow the administration to consolidate its programmes, complete ongoing projects and deepen reforms aimed at improving Nigerians’ welfare.
They specifically praised the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying the initiative had widened access to tertiary education and reduced the financial burden on students and their families.
The women also commended the Federal Government’s security interventions, including the reinforcement of military formations, acquisition of equipment and recruitment of additional security personnel.
They urged the government to sustain and expand its interventions in security, education, infrastructure, employment and economic development.
The group further called for broader engagement between the government and religious scholars, traditional rulers, community leaders, women, youths and professionals.
Speaking at the gathering, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani said the endorsement was driven by the performance of the Tinubu administration rather than sentiments or personal interests.
Sani said the women had travelled from different parts of the North to express their support for the President based on his policies and interventions.
“They are not endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu based on sentiments or other selfish reasons. It is simply because of what he has done for Nigeria, and for Northern Nigeria in particular: in the area of education, in the area of infrastructure, in the area of health care, and in the area of agriculture, and even more importantly, in the area of security,” he said.
