Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has assured party faithful that there is no cause for alarm following the recent defection of key figures including the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; and several party chieftains in Delta State to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the former Senate President acknowledged that while the PDP would certainly “miss” the defectors, their departure would not significantly weaken the party’s prospects for the 2027 general elections. He described the situation as “a blessing in disguise,” insisting that the mass defections could trigger internal conflict within the APC.
According to Wabara, the influx of former PDP members into the APC will create tensions as they attempt to supplant long-standing party loyalists, ultimately leading to an implosion within the ruling party. “The PDP will have the last laugh. The displaced APC members will seek refuge elsewhere, and many of them will find their way back to the PDP,” he predicted.
Wabara stressed that defections are not unusual in politics, attributing the latest movements to several factors, including political self-interest, loss of faith in the electoral process, and desperation for second-term assurances. “It was expected, and we should anticipate even more defections. Some are driven by the desire for second terms, while others seek protection,” he said.
He further dismissed fears that the defections would give the APC a clear advantage in 2027, emphasizing that the power to decide ultimately rests with the Nigerian people, not political parties. “It is a movement of leadership, not followership,” Wabara explained, adding that not all top leaders from Delta PDP are defecting.
The PDP BoT chairman pointed to a growing distrust of the electoral process as one of the main reasons behind the mass defection, noting that some political actors fear that future elections may not truly reflect the will of the people. However, he expressed confidence that Nigerians would resist any electoral malpractice in 2027. “The era of announcing questionable results and asking aggrieved parties to go to court is over. Nigerians are determined to reclaim their country,” he asserted.
Wabara also lamented the recent loss of respected Ijaw leader, Pa Edwin Clark, suggesting that had Clark been alive, the mass defection of Ijaw PDP chieftains in Delta State would likely not have occurred. “Pa Edwin Clark would never have tolerated such political recklessness,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Wabara expressed optimism about the PDP’s future, asserting that the party would rebuild itself into a dominant political force before the next election cycle. He reiterated that while those seeking personal gain were free to leave, the remaining loyalists would focus on strengthening the party.
The former Senate President also warned against President Bola Tinubu’s perceived efforts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, cautioning that such a trend could plunge the country into tyranny and despotism, posing a serious threat to democracy.
Finally, Wabara called on PDP members nationwide not to lose heart but to remain resilient and committed to the party’s revival. He said that progressive-minded Nigerians from other political backgrounds would eventually rally around the PDP to collectively rescue the nation from APC’s grip in 2027.
