Abuja, Nigeria – April 29, 2025 — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold a high-stakes strategy meeting on May 11, as top officials in the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Governors Forum scramble to contain a wave of defections and internal leadership disputes threatening to unravel the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to a senior PDP official who spoke to The PUNCH under anonymity, the meeting aims to halt further defections—most recently the dramatic exit of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa—and to address unresolved questions surrounding the party’s National Secretary position.
The NWC has directed its Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, to initiate legal proceedings against Oborevwori and other defectors, seeking to reclaim their mandates under provisions of the Electoral Act.
“The defections, particularly by Okowa and Oborevwori, were shocking. The party had treated them fairly,” the source said. “Their actions were seen as motivated by personal interest.”
Defections and Realignments
On April 23, both Okowa and Oborevwori publicly joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing disillusionment with PDP’s internal disarray and a desire to secure federal benefits for Delta State by aligning with the ruling party. Okowa also controversially claimed that Atiku Abubakar, PDP’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, is also preparing to exit the party.
Atiku swiftly refuted that claim through his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, reaffirming his commitment to PDP and calling for unity within the party.
“Atiku is not on his way out of the PDP,” Ibe said. “He bears no grudges and respects the right of others to make political decisions.”
Okowa justified the move by arguing that opposition governors struggle to access federal resources and influence, citing his own experience during his eight-year term.
“If you’re a governor in the ruling party, it’s easier to attract investment and connect to Abuja,” Okowa said during an interview with Arise News.
Party Leadership in Crisis
The PDP is also grappling with the contested position of National Secretary, a role currently disputed between Senator Samuel Anyanwu, backed by a Supreme Court ruling, and Setonji Koshoedo, endorsed by the Governors Forum.
Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, speaking after the party’s 600th NWC meeting, tried to project stability:
“We may have our issues, but the beauty of this party is that it always resolves its crises. PDP is intact.”
Damagum warned defectors not to blame party instability for their actions, calling such reasoning “an excuse to justify stupidity.”
He also revealed that a Caretaker Committee, led by Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, has been set up to oversee restructuring in Delta State following the defections.
Looking Ahead: May 27 NEC and August Convention
The NWC has endorsed the Governors Forum’s recommendation to hold an early National Elective Convention in August (28–30) to elect new leadership. The proposal will be submitted for ratification at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on May 27.
“We are forwarding all these issues to NEC,” Damagum said. “Only NEC can decide.”
Meanwhile, the party plans to pursue legal avenues to reclaim elective seats lost to defections, in line with the Electoral Act.
Implications for 2027
The May 11 meeting is viewed as critical in determining PDP’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially amid calls for a unified opposition. Earlier this year, Atiku, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai announced a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu, sparking speculation about a broader political realignment.
As tensions mount within the PDP, the party’s ability to navigate internal conflicts, maintain cohesion, and offer a credible alternative to the APC remains in question.