In a desperate bid to halt the wave of defections and internal turmoil threatening its survival, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Former governors including former Rivers State Governors and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, held a high-level strategic meeting yesterday with former governors, National Assembly presiding officers, and party stakeholders. The goal: to rescue Nigeria’s main opposition party from political disintegration ahead of the pivotal 2027 general elections.
The crisis within the PDP reached a boiling point after the shocking defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This move dealt a severe blow to the party’s structure in Delta State, one of its former strongholds. Adding salt to injury, Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki from Kebbi State recently jumped ship to the APC following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, fueling fears of a looming one-party state.
Faced with this growing exodus and widespread discontent, the PDP leadership held an expanded meeting to strategize a comeback and fortify the party’s base. Critical discussions at the session focused on the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the National Elective Convention, and a broader plan to unify the fractured party ahead of key elections.
The meeting, convened by PDP Governors Forum Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, attracted top party figures including Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara). However, the absence of Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, Taraba’s Agbu Kefas, Bayelsa’s Douye Diri, and the suspended Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, underscored the deepening fractures within the party.
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Notable PDP heavyweights such as Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; FCT Minister Nyesom Wike; and former governors including Seriake Dickson, Udom Emmanuel, Liyel Imoke, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Achike Udenwa were also in attendance, signaling the seriousness of the situation and a united front to counter the APC’s rising dominance.
Insiders revealed that discussions zeroed in on how to end infighting within the National Working Committee (NWC), particularly around the roles of the National Secretary and the acting National Chairman. The PDP leaders also debated whether to form a grand opposition coalition or focus on internal consolidation. With off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun around the corner, the PDP is planning an aggressive campaign push to rebuild momentum.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has decried sabotage from within the PDP ranks as he attempts to stabilize and reposition the party. His spokesperson, Mazi Paul Ibe, accused some party insiders of colluding with the APC to undermine Atiku’s efforts. According to Ibe, “Atiku has put in a lot of effort to build the party, but he cannot do it alone. The party needs to work together and be disciplined. When people sabotage his work and try to hand the party over to the APC, the failure is not his but theirs.”
Ibe dismissed speculations over Atiku’s 2027 ambitions, stating that the real issue is not who runs, but how to rescue the nation from the APC’s misrule. He condemned the Tinubu-led administration’s handling of insecurity, hunger, and the crumbling economy, citing the President’s foreign trips during national crises as proof of misplaced priorities.
The PDP’s emergency strategy session marks a critical turning point for the opposition party. As internal challenges mount and defections continue to rock its foundation, the party now faces its toughest battle yet, survival. The decisions made in the coming weeks could determine whether the PDP regains its political relevance or fades into history as Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections.
