Premium News
Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have moved to form an alliance with other opposition parties following the ongoing defections of governors, lawmakers, and other leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recall that the PDP Governors’ Forum had, on April 14, 2025, distanced itself from the opposition coalition that birthed the African Democratic Congress (APC), insisting that it remained true to the party.
The governors declared that they would not join any coalition or merger ahead of 2027.
However, some PDP chieftains, including current national and zonal principal officers, have hinted that the party would form a coalition with credible opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party leaders acknowledged that although the PDP is strong and acceptable, they had seen reasons for an alliance of opposition parties to form a formidable force against the APC.
A member of the PDP convention planning committee, in an interview with Punch, said the party’s leadership was now open to a coalition.
The principal officer in PDP, who spoke anonymously, said there were already talks among leaders of the party to consider alliances with other parties in view of the PDP’s dwindling fortunes.
He said, “If we are not going to deceive ourselves, the defections here and there have reduced our political strength. Hitherto, the South-East and South-South were strongholds of the PDP, but with what is happening now, we don’t have firm control of those regions. Don’t forget that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is from Rivers, and he has caused enough damage for us.
“We cannot also deny the fact that the ADC is spreading fast in the northern part of the country, while the APC has the upper hand in the South-West because the President is from there. So, the best bet for us is to go into a strategic alliance with credible opposition parties. Some of us (the PDP leaders) are discussing that, and it is gaining the attention of others. We will know the path to take after the convention.”
Similarly, the South-West Chairman of the PDP, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, asserted that the party needed concerted efforts for the 2027 elections.
He, however, downplayed the defections of PDP governors to the APC, saying they would not have any profound effect on the party’s electoral fortunes.
He said, “We need a concerted democratic effort to oust this current government. We can’t run away from that.
“However, if we have credible and transparent elections, you will not be surprised that the defections of the governors will not have any significant effect on the PDP. People don’t like the APC, but we need to have a credible poll.”
