The Northern Elders Unity Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has voiced deep concern over the growing wave of defections by its members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in Zamfara and Kaduna States.
Speaking after a consultative meeting with party elders from Kaura Namoda, Zurmi, Tsafe, and Bungudu Local Government Areas, the Forum’s National Secretary, Dr. Abbas Sadauki, described the development as “worrisome and detrimental to the stability of the PDP in the Northwest.”
Dr. Sadauki alleged that the mass defections were being fuelled by the Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, whom he accused of using public resources and personal influence to lure PDP members.
“The minister appears desperate to weaken the PDP’s structures in Zamfara and across the North-West ahead of the 2027 general elections. His antecedents of using power and appointments to coerce our loyal members have created a leadership vacuum and dampened morale within our ranks,” he stated.
The Forum condemned what it termed an attempt to “dismantle opposition structures” in the region, warning that such political manoeuvres could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Dismantling opposition groups in whatever form is a dangerous precedent. Many of our members are being misled with false promises of greener pastures in the APC, which does not bode well for the future of democracy in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Dr. Sadauki called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution the Minister of State for Defence, alleging that his activities were capable of “uprooting the democratic structures that promote fairness, justice, and cohesion in the country.”
Reports from Zamfara indicate that over 24,000 PDP members have recently defected to the APC, including several former executives and notable elders across six local government areas.
Meanwhile, the PDP leadership in Abuja has maintained that it will not succumb to pressure despite the rising number of defections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, insisted that the opposition remains steadfast in its commitment to defending Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.
“No amount of blackmail or harassment can silence the PDP. These defections are orchestrated moves by those who want to turn Nigeria into a one-party state,” Ologunagba said.
He dismissed claims that the PDP was losing strength, stressing that the party had faced similar challenges in the past and always bounced back.
“This is not the first time we have faced pressure. Each time, we have regrouped and come out stronger,” he added.
