The unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition platform for the 2027 general elections has triggered anxiety within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as indications emerged that more top members may dump the party in the coming days.
The Daily Sun gathered that several PDP heavyweights, who played key roles in Tuesday’s high-profile coalition meeting in Abuja, are finalising plans to formally leave the party in order to assume control of ADC structures in their respective states.
Naija News reports that the former Senate President, David Mark, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and ex-Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal were among the PDP leaders who declared that the opposition party had become “a shadow of itself,” and called on Nigerians to embrace the new coalition as the only credible alternative ahead of 2027.
Also present at the meeting were ex-governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), as well as Sule Lamido (Jigawa), former Minister of Police Affairs Waziri Maina, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, and former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi.
Just hours after the Abuja meeting, a resignation letter from David Mark to the PDP Chairman of Otukpo Ward, Benue State, surfaced online, dated June 27.
The letter reads, “I write to formally inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the party with immediate effect.
“You may recall that over the years, I have remained firm and deeply committed to the ideals of the PDP… However, recent events marked by deepening divisions, persistent leadership crisis, and irreconcilable differences have reduced the party to a shadow of its former self.”
Mark said his decision followed wide consultations with family and political allies, stating that he would now join the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement to help “rescue our nation and preserve our hard-earned democracy.”
Party insiders told Daily Sun that Mark’s exit could be the first in a wave of defections. Many PDP figures involved in the coalition are expected to follow suit, while others may tactically remain in the PDP but work for ADC during the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, urged party members not to be swayed by the movement, warning that defectors would soon realise no other platform offers the accommodation the PDP provides.
Chinda Weighs In: ‘Expect More Defections’
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, admitted the coalition move could trigger further defections, not only from the PDP but also from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Chinda, however, played down the long-term strength of the coalition, describing it as “a group of dissatisfied individuals” rather than a fully formed political party.
He said, “Let me say that the coalition is not a political party. I can say that it is a group of politicians that are not very happy with where they have found themselves trying to come together to set up a new political front.
“I will not say that I wish them well because I do not wish them well. But I want to tell them that you don’t build a house midway, leave it and start building another house. I also see a situation where midway, you are likely to leave that house and start going back to your old structure to attempt to complete it.
“Perhaps, what they are doing is to add some colour to democracy in Nigeria, showing that people have the opportunity, privilege and right to divergent opinions and views. But do not despise the Peoples Democratic Party. It will still come up strong.
“There is no doubt that it might trigger defections because more persons, both from PDP and APC, are likely to attempt to find greener political pastures among them, but how far can it go?”
Similarly, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Eddy Olafeso, told Daily Sun that while more persons are likely to leave the opposition party in the days ahead, an equal number will also join the party.
Olafeso appealed to members of the PDP to learn from history, noting that party leaders are better off by consolidating and stabilising the platform than dividing it.
He said those planning to dump the party should remember that they have benefited immensely from it. According to him, the challenges confronting the opposition notwithstanding, the solution does not lie in defection.
Olafeso said, “We must learn from history. We must embrace our party. If things went wrong, nobody can absolve himself from the mistakes of the past. So, we must learn from it and continue to do better for our people.
“More will leave. More will come in. But we will not stop appealing to all to see reason. We are not abusing anybody. They have political choices they have made. We are appealing to them to think twice before closing the door. Most times they have closed the door once and they returned again. We appeal to everyone of them.
“Yes, things went wrong. Nobody can deny that, but is it by running away that you solve it? If you have a family and things went wrong, must you run away? You need to fix it, and fixing it means working at it. They have been blessed. The party has promoted them extensively. When things go wrong, do we just run away?”
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