“Our Party Is Not in Coma, Our Strength Lies with the People” — PDP Reacts to Gov Mbah’s Defection

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, has dismissed concerns that the recent defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) signals the collapse of the opposition party.

Speaking on Arise Television’s *Prime Time* shortly after Mbah’s defection on Tuesday, Ologunagba maintained that the PDP remains vibrant and rooted in the people, not in individual officeholders.

“The PDP is not in a coma or a vegetative state. Yes, we have challenges — some external, others internal — but we are working steadily toward our convention,” he said.

Governor Mbah, alongside members of his cabinet, officially joined the ruling APC earlier in the day. His defection follows similar moves by Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, who both switched to the APC earlier this year, citing the PDP’s internal crises and a desire to align their states more closely with the federal government.

Ologunagba argued that these defections do not necessarily weaken the PDP, insisting that the ruling party is using inducement and intimidation to lure opposition figures.

“People are not defecting because of ideology or programmes,” he said. “They are leaving due to personal interests, inducement, intimidation, and coercion.”

The PDP spokesperson further alleged that the APC is deliberately engineering the defections to destabilize the PDP ahead of its national convention slated for November in Ibadan.

Despite acknowledging the party’s challenges, Ologunagba expressed confidence that the PDP would rebound stronger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“With or without governors, the strength of the PDP lies with the people — and that strength will come to the fore in 2027,” he concluded.