Mass defections: PDP govs in emergency talks with party bigwigs

In a wider consultation on how to address the wave of defections and the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, governors elected on the platform have invited former governors and other stakeholders of the party to a meeting today (Sunday) in Abuja.

Our correspondent gathered from an insider that the governors also summoned members of the Board of Trustees and former presiding officers of the National Assembly.

It was also learnt that the PDP leaders would address key issues, including the upcoming National Executive Committee meeting and the National Elective Convention, at the expanded meeting.

The insider told Sunday PUNCH exclusively that the meeting was expected to be highly tense, as it was meant to prepare party leaders for the upcoming NEC and other pressing matters.

Since the 2023 elections, the PDP has been battling internal crises.

The situation worsened with the conflict between Governor Sim Fubara and Nyesom Wike in Rivers State, along with disagreements over the South-South zonal leadership and the unresolved National Secretary position since December 2024.

Attempts by the party’s leadership bodies, the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, and the PDP Governors’ Forum, to mediate have only deepened divisions.

These efforts have led to further splits within the state and zonal chapters of the party.

As the crisis drags on, many party leaders have grown disillusioned, with some defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress and blaming the PDP’s unresolved internal issues.

On April 23, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other officials from the state joined the APC.

National Assembly members have also been leaving the party.

Three Kebbi lawmakers, Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) joined the ruling party after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who has been accused by the opposition of plotting to turn the country into a one-party state.

The departure of the PDP leaders dealt a major blow to the party’s image and weakened its chances ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PDP governors had been meeting to address party matters, but today’s meeting was expanded because of the importance of the agenda, according to the insider.

The source confirmed that the meeting, set to hold at night, would focus on addressing the party’s internal crisis and defections of its key members, among other issues.

He stated, “Yes, the meeting will hold on Sunday. It is no longer just a governors and stakeholders’ meeting, as other key stakeholders, including some former governors, former presiding officers of the National Assembly, and other party leaders, will also participate.

“It is scheduled to take place in Abuja. They are expected to deliberate on a range of critical issues, including defections, the forthcoming NEC meeting, the national convention, and several other pressing matters affecting the party’s unity and direction.

“The meeting will set the tone for future engagements and strategy sessions. It promises to be an important, insightful gathering and a moment of truth for the party’s leadership and direction.”

Confirming the development, the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Emmanuel Agbo, stated that the meeting was to discuss key party matters.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, Agbo explained that the meeting was to secure support for the implementation of decisions made by the governors at their previous gathering in Ibadan.

He stated, “The meeting is going to hold in Abuja tomorrow (Sunday). The invitees are former governors and others. The governors want to meet with the ex-governors that are still in the party to deliberate on party issues.

“The meeting is to get their support for the implementation of all decisions taken during the last PDP Governors’ meeting in Ibadan. They want to get their buy-in as everybody prepares for the National Convention in August. All elders of the party should own the process.”

Also, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that starting with today’s meeting, Nigerians could look forward to a stronger and more effective opposition party.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, the PDP chieftain said such meetings were part of the party’s established internal processes for resolving internal disputes.

He stated, “What the party leaders are doing, in line with the PDP structures and constitution, gives us confidence that the party will emerge stronger and better from these meetings.

“The Nigerian people will once again be proud to associate with the PDP. We have a proven track record, and we are confident that all these meetings and processes are geared towards building a formidable PDP capable of unseating Tinubu in 2027.

“We call on all PDP members nationwide not to be discouraged by the actions of the APC-led Federal Government. Despite the challenges, it is important that our members remain focused, determined, and committed to the party.”

Meanwhile, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, has said prominent leaders who recently left the party had only shown their true character.

Damagum stated this in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH in Abuja.

Speaking on the recent defection of Senators Aliero, Abdullahi and Maidoki, Damagum said in no distant time, the defectors would soon abandon the APC as well.

He said, “Those who are defecting have no conscience. They have forgotten so easily the power of God to change things within a short period. Does it even make sense? You were elected on the platform of one political party, and you shamelessly left for another party with that mandate. This goes to show the character of these people.

“As for Adamu Aliero and his co-travellers, I can only say this: what pursued them out of the PDP will again take them out of the APC. We know these people and what they stand for. They are people with a history of defection in their political careers.”

He called on party faithful to remain truthful to the party ideals, noting that the 2027 election would offer Nigerians the opportunity to choose between slavery and freedom.

The PDP chieftain further cautioned party leaders making unguarded utterances about the fortune of the party to close ranks for the task ahead.

Source: Punch