Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has hinted that he may formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing himself as being “in transition” politically.

Musa, who served as the 18th Chief of Defense Staff until October 2025, made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

When asked if he now considers himself a politician, Musa replied: “I’ve not transitioned yet. I’m in transition.”

Pressed further on whether he is already a member of the APC, he said: “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, sworn in by President Bola Tinubu on December 4, 2025, pledged full support for the administration.

“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.

His comments come amid a wave of defections to the APC since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

Governors who have crossed over include Abba Yusuf of Kano (NNPP), Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, all from the PDP.

Most recently, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State defected from the PDP to the APC, raising the number of APC governors to 29.

Mainstream excuse is that the defections are due to internal crises within opposition parties and, but the opposition say they’re governors are being coerced, induced or both, to join the ruling party

Coup Plot Against Tinubu and Musa

During the same interview, Musa revealed he was among the targets of a foiled coup plot uncovered last October.

“I was also a target; I am sure you know. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he said.

The military had announced the arrest of 16 officers in October 2025 for “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.” Last week, authorities confirmed that some of the officers will face trial for plotting to overthrow President Tinubu.

Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defense Information, said: “Findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards required of members of the AFN. Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.”

“Unserious Individuals”

Musa dismissed the coup plotters as lacking seriousness.

“I think these guys were a bunch of unserious individuals. If you look at the caliber of persons involved in the attempted coup, I don’t know what got into their heads to think they can take on the Armed Forces like that,” he said.

He added that Nigerians would have resisted any attempt to return to military rule.

“Even Nigerians would have fought them. Remember, Nigerians have fought against military rule for quite some time. Mr. President has been one of them, so for them to wake up one morning and think they can do that in Nigeria, I think they need to reset their brain,” Musa remarked.

Nigeria experienced several coups between 1966 and 1993 but has remained under democratic governance since 1999.

The foiled plot came amid a spate of military takeovers in West Africa, including an attempted coup in Benin Republic late last year.