PDP Leaders Hold Strategic Meeting in Abuja Amid Crisis, Defections, and 2027 Uncertainty
Amid growing internal discord and a wave of high-profile defections, seven governors elected under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with former governors and influential party figures, convened in Abuja on Sunday to strategise on the party’s future and forestall what many view as a drift towards single-party dominance by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The meeting, hosted at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, was chaired by Senator Bala Mohammed, the Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. It was a crucial gathering aimed at stabilising the PDP, restoring internal cohesion, and laying the groundwork for a credible challenge in the 2027 general elections.
Who Was Present, and Who Wasn’t
Governors in attendance included:
- Ademola Adeleke (Osun)
- Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau)
- Seyi Makinde (Oyo)
- Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa)
- Peter Mbah (Enugu)
- Dauda Lawal (Zamfara)
Notably absent were Governors:
- Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom)
- Agbu Kefas (Taraba)
- Douye Diri (Bayelsa)
- Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers)
The absence of these governors, especially those from states under increasing political pressure from the APC, sparked speculation about widening rifts within the party and growing unease in certain state chapters.
Also in attendance were prominent figures such as:
- Ambassador Umar Damagum, PDP Acting National Chairman
- Former governors Seriake Dickson, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Liyel Imoke, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Achike Udenwa
- Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State governor
- Bukola Saraki, former Senate President
- Udom Emmanuel, former governor of Akwa Ibom State
Deliberations: Rescuing a Party in Crisis
Insider sources revealed that the meeting’s core agenda was to address the recent wave of defections that have rocked the party. High-profile exits include current Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several lawmakers from Kebbi State, all of whom have defected to the APC after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Beyond defections, the meeting tackled persistent leadership wrangles within the PDP, especially controversies surrounding the National Working Committee (NWC) and the unresolved position of National Secretary.
Participants also discussed preparations for the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27, as well as plans for the party’s next National Elective Convention. There were deliberations on whether the PDP should consider coalition-building with other opposition parties, or focus inward on consolidating its fractured base.
Strategies to strengthen PDP’s performance in upcoming off-season elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States were also considered, with emphasis on mobilising resources and rebuilding grassroots support.
Atiku’s Camp Sounds the Alarm: “Internal Sabotage Undermining PDP”
Meanwhile, Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, voiced strong concerns over alleged internal sabotage within the PDP. In an interview with Vanguard, Ibe alleged that some party members are covertly working with the ruling APC to destabilise the PDP ahead of 2027.
“Atiku has put in a lot of effort to build the party, but he cannot do it alone. When people sabotage his work and try to hand the party over to the APC, the failure is not his but theirs,” Ibe remarked.
Responding to those who believe Atiku should not contest again in 2027, Ibe said:
“Everyone has the right to their opinion. If they believe he should not run, they can support someone else. That’s what democracy is about.”
He further criticised the APC-led federal government for failing to address national issues such as insecurity and economic hardship, describing President Tinubu’s foreign trips as a sign of detachment.
“In April, the President was having a good time in France while Nigerians were being killed at home. A good leader would have ended the trip and returned home to handle the crisis,” Ibe stated.
Ibe insisted that the real focus should not be on who will contest the 2027 election, but on holding the current administration accountable for the worsening state of the nation.
With Nigeria’s political terrain shifting rapidly, the PDP’s weekend gathering represents both a moment of reckoning and a chance for reset. Whether the party can unite its feuding factions, resist further defections, and present a compelling alternative to the APC in 2027 remains to be seen.
