NewStats: 3,265,285 , 8,186,241 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 09:00 AM 1v1o3j

In a wider consultation on how to address the wave of defections and the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, governors elected on the platform have invited former governors and other stakeholders of the party to a meeting today (Sunday) in Abuja.

Our correspondent gathered from an insider that the governors also summoned of the Board of Trustees and former presiding officers of the National Assembly.

It was also learnt that the PDP leaders would address key issues, including the National Executive Committee meeting and the National Elective Convention, at the expanded meeting.

The insider told Sunday PUNCH exclusively that the meeting was expected to be highly tense, as it was meant to prepare party leaders for the NEC and other pressing matters.

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Since the 2023 elections, the PDP has been battling internal crises.

The situation worsened with the conflict between Governor Sim Fubara and Nyesom Wike in Rivers State, along with disagreements over the South-South zonal leadership and the unresolved National Secretary position since December 2024.

Attempts by the party’s leadership bodies, the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, and the PDP Governors’ Forum, to mediate have only deepened divisions.

These efforts have led to further splits within the state and zonal chapters of the party.

As the crisis drags on, many party leaders have grown disillusioned, with some defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress and blaming the PDP’s unresolved internal issues.

On April 23, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other officials from the state ed the APC.

National Assembly have also been leaving the party.

Three Kebbi lawmakers, Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) ed the ruling party after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who has been accused by the opposition of plotting to turn the country into a one-party state.

The departure of the PDP leaders dealt a major blow to the party’s image and weakened its chances ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PDP governors had been meeting to address party matters, but today’s meeting was expanded because of the importance of the agenda, according to the insider.

The source confirmed that the meeting, set to hold at night, would focus on addressing the party’s internal crisis and defections of its key , among other issues.

He stated, “Yes, the meeting will hold on Sunday. It is no longer just a governors and stakeholders’ meeting, as other key stakeholders, including some former governors, former presiding officers of the National Assembly, and other party leaders, will also participate.

“It is scheduled to take place in Abuja. They are expected to deliberate on a range of critical issues, including defections, the forthcoming NEC meeting, the national convention, and several other pressing matters affecting the party’s unity and direction.

“The meeting will set the tone for future engagements and strategy sessions. It promises to be an important, insightful gathering and a moment of truth for the party’s leadership and direction.”

Confirming the development, the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Emmanuel Agbo, stated that the meeting was to discuss key party matters.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, Agbo explained that the meeting was to secure for the implementation of decisions made by the governors at their previous gathering in Ibadan.

He stated, “The meeting is going to hold in Abuja tomorrow (Sunday). The invitees are former governors and others. The governors want to meet with the ex-governors that are still in the party to deliberate on party issues.


“The meeting is to get their for the implementation of all decisions taken during the last PDP Governors’ meeting in Ibadan. They want to get their buy-in as everybody prepares for the National Convention in August. All elders of the party should own the process.”

Also, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that starting with today’s meeting, Nigerians could look forward to a stronger and more effective opposition party.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, the PDP chieftain said such meetings were part of the party’s established internal processes for resolving internal disputes.

He stated, “What the party leaders are doing, in line with the PDP structures and constitution, gives us confidence that the party will emerge stronger and better from these meetings.

“The Nigerian people will once again be proud to associate with the PDP. We have a proven track record, and we are confident that all these meetings and processes are geared towards building a formidable PDP capable of unseating Tinubu in 2027.

“We call on all PDP nationwide not to be discouraged by the actions of the APC-led Federal Government. Despite the challenges, it is important that our remain focused, determined, and committed to the party.”

Meanwhile, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, has said prominent leaders who recently left the party had only shown their true character.

Damagum stated this in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH in Abuja.

Speaking on the recent defection of Senators Aliero, Abdullahi and Maidoki, Damagum said in no distant time, the defectors would soon abandon the APC as well.

He said, “Those who are defecting have no conscience. They have forgotten so easily the power of God to change things within a short period. Does it even make sense? You were elected on the platform of one political party, and you shamelessly left for another party with that mandate. This goes to show the character of these people.

“As for Adamu Aliero and his co-travellers, I can only say this: what pursued them out of the PDP will again take them out of the APC. We know these people and what they stand for. They are people with a history of defection in their political careers.”

He called on party faithful to remain truthful to the party ideals, noting that the 2027 election would offer Nigerians the opportunity to choose between slavery and freedom.

The PDP chieftain further cautioned party leaders making unguarded utterances about the fortune of the party to close ranks for the task ahead.

“The PDP will surely bounce back because it is the party of the people. APC is anti-Nigerians,” he added.

A member of the National Working Committee, Umar Bature, echoed a similar sentiment, urging Nigerians to watch out for the defection of APC to the PDP.

In a brief interview with Sunday PUNCH, Bature, who is the PDP’s National Organising Secretary, said, “The defections are nothing. Others will us too. Just wait and see.”

Also speaking, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Kingsley Chinda, attributed the defection to the ruling party as a pointer to the lack of ideology in the nation’s polity.

While itting that the exit of chieftains from the PDP was worrisome, Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State, expressed confidence in the ability of the party to resolve its challenges in its forthcoming National Executive Council meeting.

The NEC is scheduled for May 27.

He said, “The continued defection is not just weakening the opposition but the political structure in the country. Can the APC be confident of its hip (both old and new) today? The PDP has scheduled an emergency NEC meeting. That will be an issue for consideration.

“I think that the defections point to one issue — that, as a nation, we need political reorientation. Party ideology is zero, and a constitutional amendment is also necessary. It is now obvious that in Nigeria, every politics is local and more of personal interest.”

PDP puts hope on NEC

In a related development, a former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, and the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, expressed optimism that the party would emerge stronger after the NEC scheduled for May 27.

They noted that the gathering offered a crucial opportunity for party leaders to address and settle outstanding issues.

Odeyemi, describing the meeting as the party’s highest decision-making body, called on all to be present.

He stated, “The NEC is the party’s top decision-making body. We are optimistic and believe this will be the beginning of resolving the internal crisis within the party.”

Commenting, Osadolor noted that the NEC was attracting significant attention due to unresolved issues within the party leadership.

He stated, “Why this one (NEC meeting) is generating a lot of attention is because of some underlying issues that need resolution. I know people want to know about the status of the National Secretary. People want to know the position of the party on major issues. People want to know the status, preparedness, and level of the party’s choice in the general elections.

“And then, the congresses that we’ve had in the past few months are awaiting ratification. So, it’s going to be quite influential, but not out of the ordinary.

“If there’s any way to describe being optimistic, I think I should be more than optimistic. Why shouldn’t I be? Though the party at a time seemed cracked, superior wisdom and advice have prevailed, and the leadership is now acting and speaking as it should. Therefore, I am very optimistic that the party will survive.

“That’s why I think the important thing is that the power and leadership of the party are on course. It’s the responsibility of the leadership to take it upon themselves to play leading roles, as they should, being the leaders of the party.

“So, I believe that good things will come from the PDP. At the end of the day, it will serve the best interest of all Nigerians, having a strong force capable of rescuing the country from the hardship this current government has placed on everyone living in Nigeria, and even those yet to be born

https://punchng.com/mass-defections-pdp-govs-in-emergency-talks-with-party-bigwigs/

PDP should concentrate on South South,South West and North Central only,Tinubu has bought all core North and South east love him organically, there's no need going to those regions.

All the coalition needs to do is throw up this ticket and it's game over for Tinubu

omonnakoda:
Tinubu is not my Tinubu

He has not failed until we get to the election it is too early to say he has failed

Tinubu failed from day 1 in your book. You are the one with the ethnic mindset based on Igboness and bitterness that a Yoruba man is taking what you think an Igbo man should have . That is your motivation

I really do not want to be Tinubu's advocate But He will point to spectacular achievements of the Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike which from all s are unprecedented
If that continues till 2027 .He likely will win the FCT where he did not even get 25%. That won't be failure

The fundamental economic problem in Nigeria is a lack of Power to drive industrialization. That is not a short-term problem and I do not see any president fixing that in the next 6 years

Okay
Vote who you think can solve the problem among the candidates that contest. Can we place a bet that APC will not win in FCT?

"SUMMONED"... Sounds arrogant.

May PDP never rise again!!

The next election is less than 2 years yet the so called opposition are yet to have the president and vice aspirants not to talk about which political vehicle ( Political party) they will ride on.

I guess they would start their own mobilization when the election is just a year.

Anyways, anyone that shout ringing in 2027 should be sentenced to prison

Waste of time....

With Delta State gone, PDP can never recover again.

Useless party

Copy and paste poster.

Can’t you summarize your contents?

2027 will be a year of surprises. Tinubu might not make it to the polls.

Key word "Might"

Damagun should leave the party and take Wike along.

DMerciful:
All the coalition needs to do is throw up this ticket and it's game over for Tinubu

😆 😆

They look like Tom and Jerry

DMerciful:
All the coalition needs to do is throw up this ticket and it's game over for Tinubu

Dumb. Tinubu will defeat them before 1pm on election day. Best ticket is Atiku/ Udom Emmanuel.

OracleJay411:
"SUMMONED"... Sounds arrogant.

May PDP never rise again!!

There is nothing arrogant in the following sentence

governors elected on the platform have[b] invited[/b] former governors and other stakeholders of the party to a meeting today (Sunday) in Abuja.

DMerciful:
All the coalition needs to do is throw up this ticket and it's game over for Tinubu

Which Ticket, you mean the 2 clowns. BAT will swallow them in a second

WhizdomXX:
Okay

Do PDP still have big wigs

All for looting, everyone is for their personal interest , king of looters dey rule

Is this your intelligent response?

sleek214:

Dumb

You're hiding your fears behind those laughing emojis

victorDanladi:

😆 😆

They look like Tom and Jerry

DMerciful:
All the coalition needs to do is throw up this ticket and it's game over for Tinubu

I just dey laugh.
You guys lack foresight.

Explain

Coldspice:


I just dey laugh.
You guys lack foresight.

treesun:

https://punchng.com/mass-defections-pdp-govs-in-emergency-talks-with-party-bigwigs/

Doomed and useless

Sometimes, patience pays if only you can sacrifice time. Had Atiku ed Jonathan for second term, he could have been the one ruling now but he tried to play a fast one on Jonathan thinking power will swing in his favour. He miscalculated and paying the price of impatience up till now.

DMerciful:
All the coalition needs to do is throw up this ticket and it's game over for Tinubu

which yeye coalition


These guys are thieves that is why they cant do anything right

What is the difference between this democracy and coup d'etat

sleek214:

Dumb. Tinubu will defeat them before 1pm on election day. Best ticket is Atiku/ Udom Emmanuel.

Lol
Anything to separate SS votes from SE votes and then SE votes from Atiku's votes is welcome.

ayusco85:
2027 will be a year of surprises. Tinubu might not make it to the polls.

Key word "Might"

I have had to think like this too, hope it's not gonna be an implosion in APC......

DMerciful:
Explain

Firstly, you don't make a charismatic and ambitious person your deputy. That's a rookie mistake.

Secondly, the only ticket today that can rattle Tinubu is Atiku/Obi. Any other one is just efforts in futility.
To prevent that, APC is doing different things.

1. Northern politicians who are ambitious are being lured away from Atiku with the promise that 2031 is open for Presidency.

2. Eastern politicians who are ambitious are being told 2031 is open for VP slot. That's why Eastern Governors today across all parties are for Tinubu.

3. Making sure Atiku doesn't run under PDP. That's Wike's department.

Why all these defections?

My major concern rn is the current hardship in the land. Money is hard to get, but the way it vanishes with speed due to the hyperinflation we are witnessing is really disturbing.

I'm empty rn. There's nothing to survive on. Someone should pls bless me with food🙏

You want the status quo to continue?

free2ryhme:


which yeye coalition


These guys are thieves that is why they cant do anything right

Even United Nations/ World Bank / Amnesty Intl./ O.A.U / knows what the results will be.

Very predictable and sure-odds against any opposition.

As it stands today, this combination will be declared ..........

Fill in the gap.

DMerciful:
All the coalition needs to do is throw up this ticket and it's game over for Tinubu

Nigerian politics is not just dirty but monetary and position driven