By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
PDP Suffers Major Setback in Nigeria as Governors Fubara, Adeleke Defect
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing one of its toughest moments since the 2023 general election, with worsening internal disputes and a rising wave of defections threatening its relevance ahead of the 2027 polls.
The latest blow came on Tuesday as two of its major political figures, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke — publicly severed ties with the opposition party.
Their exits extend a troubling trend that has already seen governors, lawmakers and political heavyweights abandon the platform, raising fresh concerns about the PDP’s ability to survive its long-running leadership crisis.
Governor Fubara formally announced his move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
He accused the PDP of failing to protect him throughout the political hostilities that have engulfed Rivers State since he assumed office.
“What everyone has been waiting for has finally happened,” he said. “We cannot support the President from the sidelines. Since we have been given the go-ahead, we are moving to the APC.”
His decision follows the defection of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 17 other lawmakers, who left the PDP last week, also citing the party’s internal turmoil.
In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke confirmed that he is now a member of the Accord Party, which he joined secretly on November 6 as a platform for his second-term bid.
Announcing the move via his verified X handle on Tuesday, Adeleke said Accord’s focus on welfare aligns better with his administration’s priorities.
He noted that the party switch was necessary to “complete ongoing delivery of good governance and democratic dividends” and to avoid the factional struggles that have destabilised the PDP in Osun and nationally.
The simultaneous departure of two sitting governors comes at a time when the ruling APC has been consolidating influence, sparking public debate about whether Nigeria may be drifting toward a one-party political order.
The PDP dismissed Fubara’s allegations, describing his defection as a “self-inflicted” outcome. In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, the party accused the governor of rewriting history and ignoring the support he received throughout his political troubles.
“The governor cannot accuse the party of abandoning him,” the statement said. “He voluntarily made the choices that led him to
this point. Despite everything, we wish him well.”
Public Affairs analyst Dr. Nduka Odo, of Peaceland University, Enugu, said the departures indicate a deeper institutional breakdown within the PDP, not just routine pre-election realignments.
According to him, Fubara’s move reflects an attempt to survive ongoing political battles in Rivers State, while Adeleke’s shift points to “ideological fatigue” and frustration with longstanding factional divisions.
“These defections show that the PDP’s internal reward system and conflict-resolution mechanisms have collapsed,” he said. However, Odo believes the party’s decline is not irreversible if it undertakes urgent reforms.
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