I May Join APC Soon — Gen. Musa.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline | January 2, 2026.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has signalled a possible formal entry into partisan politics, revealing that he may soon join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
General Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), made the disclosure during an interview on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme aired by Channels Television, where he described his present political status as one of transition.
Asked directly whether he now considers himself a politician, the defence minister responded cautiously: “I’ve not transited yet. I’m in transition.”
Pressed further on whether he had aligned with the APC, General Musa replied in the affirmative, though with measured restraint. “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?” he said.
The 58-year-old minister also used the opportunity to express strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pledging unwavering loyalty to the administration and signalling readiness to back the President’s long-term political objectives.
“Mr President needs all support, totally. I’ll give him all my support, whatever I can do to make sure that he succeeds in his call of duty, including moving forward to the second term. I think I’d give him my very best,” Musa stated.
General Musa, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Chief of Defence Staff from June 23, 2023, until his retirement on October 30, 2025, was sworn in as Minister of Defence by President Tinubu on December 4, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.
His comments come against the backdrop of a sustained wave of political defections to the APC since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023—a trend that gained remarkable momentum throughout 2025 and has continued into the new year.
Several sitting governors have crossed over from opposition parties to the ruling APC. Among them are Abba Yusuf of Kano State from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), as well as Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, all formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Most recently, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas formally defected from the PDP to the APC on Saturday, raising the total number of governors under the ruling party’s banner to 29.
While many of these defections have been officially attributed to internal crises within opposition parties, political observers say the growing realignments are reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape and intensifying debate over the balance of power ahead of the 2027 general elections.
General Musa’s open contemplation of joining the APC further underscores the ruling party’s expanding influence, particularly among key national figures, and adds another layer of intrigue to the evolving political dynamics of the country.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 2ND 2026)

