The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will not succumb to pressure despite reports of fresh defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the opposition remains committed to defending Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who spoke in Abuja, described the spate of defections as part of a deliberate effort to weaken the opposition and tilt the country towards a one-party state.
“No amount of blackmail or harassment can silence the PDP. These defections are moves orchestrated by those who want to turn Nigeria into a one-party state,” he said.
Ologunagba dismissed speculation that the party was losing ground, stressing that the PDP had faced similar challenges in the past and always emerged stronger. “This is not the first time we have faced pressure. Each time, we have regrouped and come out stronger,” he added.
Recent reports suggest that Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu and Douye Diri of Bayelsa are considering leaving the PDP, which has unsettled party ranks. However, neither has confirmed any intention to defect. The speculation has fuelled concerns within the opposition, prompting a renewed focus on unity and internal discipline.
Speaking further, Ologunagba accused the APC of employing “coercion, intimidation, and inducement” to lure politicians across party lines. “Talks about defections are distractions. Many of those alleged defections are driven by coercion, intimidation, and inducement, a hallmark of the APC’s style of politics,” he told journalists at the party’s media centre in Abuja.
He said the PDP was working quietly on a new strategy for the 2027 elections, centred on restoring public confidence and offering credible policy alternatives.
“Nigerians have not defected from hunger, insecurity, or hardship. They seek relief, and the PDP represents hope and prosperity based on our record of performance. The PDP is a party built to protect Nigeria’s diversity. That mission has not changed,” he stated.
In Enugu and Bayelsa, the rumours of defections have caused tension among local party structures, though aides to Governor Diri have dismissed the reports as “political fiction.” Party members in both states said they were preparing for any possible realignments but expressed confidence that the PDP’s base would hold.
Ologunagba, who has become one of the party’s most consistent voices in recent months, emphasised that the PDP’s struggle transcends partisan politics.
“You cannot destroy a party that belongs to the people. The PDP is not about individuals; it represents an idea — the idea of Nigeria itself,” he said.
He argued that maintaining a viable opposition was essential to safeguarding democratic governance.
“The 2027 election will not be about who holds power. It will be about who can rescue Nigeria’s democracy,” Ologunagba declared.
Recalling the party’s history, he noted that the PDP had survived crises and major defections in the past. “It’s on record that vice presidents and presidents have left this party before, but the PDP remains. That’s the message to Nigerians — that this is an institution built on ideals rooted in the people,” he said.
At the PDP’s Legacy House in Abuja, where preparations for the next national convention are underway, meetings of sub-committees have continued with renewed urgency. Party officials say the exercise symbolises resilience and a collective determination to rebuild.
For Ologunagba, the challenge ahead is not only political but moral.
“Defections may weaken structures, but they cannot destroy conviction. The PDP’s strength lies in its ability to stand firm when others choose convenience over commitment,” he said.
He concluded with a note of resolve: “The PDP will not surrender. We are here to defend democracy, and that struggle continues.”
