Defections: APC Will Soon Implode and PDP Will Laugh Last – Wabara

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has downplayed concerns over the recent defection of key party figures, including the 2023 vice presidential candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking in Umuahia, the former Senate President described the defections as a “blessing in disguise” and predicted that the APC would soon implode as a result of internal tensions triggered by the influx of new members.

Wabara argued that the PDP would ultimately benefit from the situation, as displaced APC loyalists would seek refuge in the opposition party. He maintained that defections are not unusual in politics and attributed the moves to political survival tactics such as seeking protection and securing second terms in office. According to him, while the PDP will miss those who have left, their departure would not derail the party’s prospects in the 2027 elections.

Expressing confidence in the resilience of the PDP, Wabara insisted that Nigerians would decide the outcome of the next general elections, not political parties. He said the hardship and economic difficulties under the APC administration would motivate voters to protect their votes and demand that they count. Wabara warned that Nigerians would no longer tolerate electoral manipulation and would resist any undemocratic practices.

The PDP BoT Chairman also suggested that the fear of compromised elections in 2027 partly explains the current wave of defections to the ruling party. He dismissed any notion that the APC could easily secure victory in the next polls, stating that the battle in 2027 would be between the APC and Nigerians determined to reclaim their country.

Wabara lamented that the recent political shift in Delta State might not have occurred if Ijaw leader, Pa Edwin Clark, were still alive, noting that Clark’s opposition to APC policies had kept many Delta PDP members loyal in the past. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the PDP would emerge stronger, emphasizing that the remaining members are committed to rebuilding the party into a formidable force.

Reiterating his longstanding warning about the dangers of a one-party state, Wabara accused President Bola Tinubu of actively working to eliminate opposition and cautioned that muzzling dissent would only lead to tyranny and threaten Nigeria’s democracy. He urged PDP members nationwide not to lose faith, assuring them that the party, alongside progressive Nigerians from various political backgrounds, would unite to reclaim power in 2027.