DEFECTIONS… PDP’s Destruction, Threat To Democracy – Sule Lamido

A leading figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has warned that the destruction of the party represents a significant threat to democracy in Nigeria.

Lamido cautioned that attempts to weaken the main opposition party and others in Nigeria resemble efforts to undermine the country’s fledgling democratic system.

Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, lamented that ongoing defections from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could harm Nigeria’s democratic future.

“Crushing and persecuting the opposition, particularly the PDP, is a clear indication that a regime is approaching its end; history has demonstrated this repeatedly,” Lamido said in an interview with BBC Hausa, yesterday.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be fair. He is the president of all Nigerians. He must allow the opposition to compete politically with the APC. If he is not careful, these actions could backfire,” Lamido added.

On Monday, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire PDP political structure in the state, defected to the APC.

In recent weeks, lawmakers from opposition parties such as the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have also defected to the ruling APC. Strong rumours persist that several state governors are poised to follow suit.

Meanwhile, following a lengthy meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC), the PDP has resolved to reclaim its mandate from those who have defected.

Acting national chairman, Ambassador Illiya Umar Damagum, speaking after the meeting, said the party had directed its National Legal Adviser to initiate necessary legal proceedings.

Damagum noted that the party had adopted the recommendations made by PDP governors during a recent meeting in Ibadan, which included appointing a new National Secretary and planning the party’s next National Convention.

Commenting on the Delta defections, Damagum said he was relieved that neither the governor nor the former PDP vice-presidential candidate criticised the party, adding that the party had done nothing to warrant their departure.

He announced that the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee would now oversee the PDP’s activities in Delta State, following the dissolution of all existing structures there.

“We have instructed the National Legal Adviser to recover our stolen mandates. The fortunes of this party cannot be left in the hands of our adversaries. According to the Electoral Act, anyone who defects must relinquish their seat.

“We are taking legal steps to enforce that. But we also want to remind party members to remain loyal. As you can see, the NWC is free from crisis. If anyone is looking for an excuse to justify their own betrayal, they might claim there is turmoil. But our party is intact—it will endure,” he said.

Damagum added that the 2027 general election would be a contest between Nigerians and the Tinubu-led APC government. He noted, however, that the conditions for public dissatisfaction were already evident.

“This government has shown a blatant insensitivity to the needs and concerns of the people. They have offered nothing tangible so far and have displayed no remorse. We are not a conquered people,” he declared.

“I Regret Running with Atiku” – Okowa

Former Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has said he regretted serving as running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.

The pair contested the election under the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Okowa acknowledged that their joint ticket contradicted the zoning principle and sentiment of his constituents in Delta State.

He described his acceptance of the role as a misalignment with the prevailing mood in the region—an issue he said he has deeply reflected upon.

“Even during the campaign, I realised that our people were not keen on seeing another northerner assume power. But the decision had already been made at the federal level by the PDP, and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have followed the will of my people,” he said.

Okowa, who recently defected from the PDP to the ruling APC, said the decision was not taken lightly but was the result of a collective agreement among key political stakeholders in Delta State.

He predicted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would soon leave the PDP, citing unresolved internal conflicts and a lack of strategic direction.

He also criticised the PDP governors for refusing to embrace coalition-building efforts. He pointed to persistent leadership disputes as evidence of the party’s unreadiness for serious political engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Based on what we are seeing and the statements coming from the PDP leadership, it’s clear this is no longer a viable political vehicle for us.

“Atiku will soon leave the PDP,” Okowa declared.