-
Two PDP governors, top leaders join APC, ADC ahead of 2027 polls.
-
Ex-Senate President Mark, Atiku fuel rising ADC coalition.
-
Tinubu allies dismiss opposition bloc as “power-hungry” and “disorganised.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is grappling with mounting defections as political realignments intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
In recent months, PDP governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) have decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with several federal and state lawmakers following suit. Party insiders say more governors are expected to leave the PDP before the year ends.
The situation escalated with the resignation of former Senate President David Mark, who cited unresolved internal crises and described the PDP as a “shadow of its former self.” Mark has since been named interim national chairman of the fast-growing African Democratic Congress (ADC).
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Other PDP bigwigs publicly aligning with ADC include Atiku Abubakar, Sule Lamido, Aminu Tambuwal, and Gabriel Suswam, though most have yet to formally resign from PDP. This dual association has deepened unease within the party, already weakened by internal rifts since Atiku’s 2022 presidential nomination.
The defections are expected to dominate the party’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 23, where leaders will also finalise arrangements for a national convention.
PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba urged calm, insisting the party remains focused on rebuilding. But former Deputy National Chairman Olabode George accused defectors of betrayal, saying, “You can’t serve two masters… If you have a house that is leaking, you don’t run out. You fix it.”
Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare dismissed the ADC-led coalition as a “collection of disgruntled politicians driven by greed.” He urged them to abandon ambitions of unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027 and prepare for 2031 instead.
“In 2013, the APC merger was built on sacrifice and strategy. None of these people commands Tinubu’s level of loyalty or trust,” Dare said.
Former federal lawmaker Bamidele Faparusi added, “The ADC coalition lacks capacity to challenge APC’s deep grassroots structure across Nigeria’s 774 LGAs.”
The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) urged politicians to prioritise citizens’ welfare over partisan battles, warning that endless politicking is worsening poverty and unemployment.
