By Adeyemi David
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, are set to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before April, as the opposition party grapples with a wave of defections and an ongoing leadership crisis.
A source familiar with developments told reporters that Bala Mohammed is expected to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while Makinde plans to move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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“All the PDP leaders are leaving. Bala Mohammed is already in APC, Makinde is on his way to ADC,” the source said.
Since the 2023 general elections, at least nine PDP governors have defected to other parties, mostly the APC. These include:
Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) – April 2025
Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) – June 2025
Peter Mbah (Enugu) – October 2025
Douye Diri (Bayelsa) – November 2025
Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) – December 2025
Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) – January 2026
Only Ademola Adeleke of Osun State moved to the Accord Party in December 2025.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has also indicated plans to join APC, reportedly after the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The defections extend to the National Assembly, with a Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre report showing 66 federal lawmakers have left PDP for APC since June 2023, including 19 senators and 47 House of Representatives members.
The rush to leave the PDP is partly driven by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revised timetable for the 2027 elections.
Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are set for February 6, 2027.
Party primaries, including dispute resolution, will run from April 23 to May 30, 2026, with membership registers to be submitted between April 1 and April 21, 2026.
Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the PDP may not participate in the 2027 presidential election due to the unresolved leadership tussle.
A party chieftain, Omenka Thomas, said litigation over the validity of the Ibadan convention is unlikely to be concluded before the primaries, creating uncertainty over any candidate elected.
The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has urged the warring factions to resolve their disputes amicably, describing the crisis as a family matter “that has gone sour.” The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal is expected to deliver judgment on the consolidated appeals later this week.
The continuing defections, coupled with legal battles, highlight the deepening crisis within the PDP as the party heads toward the 2027 elections, potentially strengthening the APC’s advantage.
