Nigeria’s major opposition. party, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has continued to loose it’s members , following the internal wrangling in the party.
The latest being both the governor of Rivers states Siminalayi Fubara and his Osun state counterpart , Ademola Adeleke. They announced their exit from the party on Tuesday . While Fubara joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Adeleke joined Accord Party.
Fubara announced his defection at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The Governor said he did not receive protection from the PDP, which led to his decision to join the APC.
What you all have been waiting for, what you have been asking me— the signal has finally arrived.
“We have the full support; we have the positive nod to leave where we are because we didn’t get any protection to go to where we are going.
L-R Gov Adeleke (Accord Party) Gov Fubara (APC)
“So, we have every reason— because the truth is, let nobody be fooled in this state— we have the people, we have the supporters.
“Our only ‘thank you’ to Mr. President is to support him, and we cannot support the President in isolation; we cannot support the President if we don’t fully identify with him—not backyard support.
“So, we have taken that decision today, since we have gotten the pass. Everyone here who has followed me, who has suffered with me— our decision today, this evening— is that we are moving to the APC,” Fubara said while announcing his defection to APC.
Fubara’s defection comes just four days after the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 17 other lawmakers left the PDP for the APC.
The lawmakers said their departure from the PDP was because of the ongoing crisis within the party.
On his part, the Governor of Osun state, Adeleke announced that he was joining the Accord Party as a new platform to seek re-election in August next year.
He made the announcement in a post on his verified X handle on Tuesday, just a few days after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
According to him, he had joined the Accord Party since 6th November, 2025, as a platform to seek re-election in 2026.
“Stakeholders and residents of Osun State are aware of why we are taking this important decision.
“We intend to pursue a second term in office on the platform of the Accord Party to complete ongoing delivery of good governance and democratic dividends, which have been applauded at home and abroad.
“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens and workers’ welfare,” Adeleke said.
Reacting to Governor Fubara’s move to the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, described the development as “self-inflicted,” warning that the development threatens Nigeria’s democratic balance.
In a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said the move contributes to what it called a growing slide toward a one-party system.
According to the statement, the governor made political choices that led to his departure and should not blame the party or any stakeholder.
“Everyone who has followed the developments that culminated in this uneventful defection will recall that the Governor willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination.
“Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party, or any other person or group, of abandoning or failing to protect him.
“Whilst a person at a crossroad of threats of existential proportion may suffer from temporary amnesia caused by trauma, the Governor should have nothing less than praise for our party, civil society organisations, and all Nigerians who freely stood up in his defence since this crisis started, until he capitulated.
“It is our prayer that the Governor does not suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, where a victim falls in love with their captor. In all, despite these, we pity the Governor and wish him well,” the PDP said.
