Mass Defections: PDP Governors Hold Another Emergency Meeting in Abuja

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are holding an emergency meeting today in Abuja, as the party grapples with a fresh wave of defections and growing internal discord. The meeting is taking place at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, following recent developments that have deepened the crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Tensions within the PDP escalated after Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, led the party’s entire state structure to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) two weeks ago. Their defection marked a major setback for the PDP and added to the list of recent high-profile exits. All three PDP Senators from Kebbi State are also reportedly poised to defect to the APC, with speculation that more defections could follow.

Today’s emergency meeting is being held just weeks after a previous gathering of PDP governors in Ibadan, where they rejected any coalition talks promoted by the 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Notably, Oborevwori was absent from that meeting. The current session is also unfolding amid uncertainty over the planned May 27 meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the PDP’s highest decision-making body.

Party insiders say the meeting will address deepening concerns around the defection crisis, the party’s leadership structure, and legal disputes. One major point of contention is the role of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. Despite being sidelined by the governors in favour of Deputy National Secretary Architect Setonji Koshoedo, Anyanwu retains his title, creating legal ambiguity ahead of the NEC meeting.

The party is also contending with internal rivalry among three powerful blocs: the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Atiku Abubakar faction, and the loyalists of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The Governors’ Forum, though not constitutionally recognized, has gained significant influence. Their recommendations—formally adopted by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC)—include the rejection of any merger talks, support for Koshoedo in an acting capacity, and the constitution of two key committees.

The proposed Zoning Committee will be led by Governors Douye Diri (Chairman), Dauda Lawal (Vice Chairman), and Caleb Mutfwang (Secretary), while the National Convention Committee, tasked with organizing the convention scheduled for August 28–30 in Kano, will be chaired by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, with Governors Ademola Adeleke and Peter Mbah serving as Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.

Despite current cooperation between Acting PDP National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and the governors, the future remains uncertain. Several NWC members are facing uphill battles for reappointment, and lingering factional disputes continue to threaten the leadership’s stability. Last year, the NWC was split into two camps, each suspending the other before the governors intervened.

Calls for the removal of Damagum and the dissolution of the NWC have resurfaced among Atiku’s allies and other party stakeholders. These demands, however, require NEC approval. The Atiku bloc sees the governors’ growing influence, and particularly the choice of Governor Fintiri to oversee the convention, as further evidence of a shift away from their control.

In response, Atiku loyalists are reportedly mobilizing support across both northern and southern party leaders, with the aim of challenging the influence of Wike and Anyanwu. Their strategy includes pushing for the establishment of a caretaker committee or securing positions in any interim leadership structure until a new convention is held.

The outcome of today’s emergency meeting is expected to shape the party’s direction ahead of what could be a defining NEC session later this month.