The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be facing a deepening crisis as it continues to grapple with leadership challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party has been suffering setbacks since the 2023 polls, and the latest blow came with the formal defections of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Fubara Joins APC
Governor Fubara announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He cited a lack of protection and support from the PDP as the reason for his decision.

“What you all have been waiting for, what you have been asking me—the signal has finally arrived. We have the full support and positive nod to leave because we didn’t get any protection to go to where we are going… Our only ‘thank you’ to Mr. President is to support him,” Fubara stated.

This move came just four days after the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 17 other lawmakers also defected to the APC, citing the ongoing crisis within the PDP as their reason.

Adeleke Moves to Accord Party
Governor Adeleke announced on his verified X handle that he had joined the Accord Party on November 6, 2025, to seek re-election in 2026. He described the decision as a pursuit of good governance and alignment with the party’s focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare.

“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,” Adeleke said.

Implications for Nigeria’s Political Landscape
The defections come amid growing concerns that Nigeria may be drifting toward a one-party system, as more governors, senators, and key politicians shift from opposition parties to the APC. Analysts warn that this trend could give the ruling party little to no resistance in the 2027 elections.

PDP Responds
In reaction to Fubara’s defection, the PDP described it as “self-inflicted” and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic balance. In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, the party stressed that the governor’s departure was a result of his political choices, not the party’s actions.

“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,” the statement read.

Analysts See Deeper Structural Issues
Dr. Nduka Odo, a Public Affairs Analyst at Peaceland University, Enugu, described the defections as a sign of deeper structural problems within the PDP. He noted that Fubara’s move to the APC reflects strategic repositioning amid Rivers State’s political battles, while Adeleke’s shift to the Accord Party signals “ideological fatigue” and a desire to escape the party’s internal factionalism.

Odo warned that while the PDP is not beyond recovery, the party is in an “advanced stage of institutional erosion,” emphasizing that its survival depends on restoring cohesion, trust, and predictable reward systems.

“The PDP can reverse its decline if it undertakes serious reforms, re-engineers its internal democracy, and renegotiates power with its stakeholders,” he said.