Former Senate President and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the wave of defections rocking opposition parties in the country.

Wabara, who spoke against the backdrop of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah’s defection to the APC and reported plans by Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri to follow suit, said the development confirmed his earlier warning that the APC was pursuing a one-party state agenda.

He stated, “I saw this coming. I raised the alarm, but was ignored. This is not the democracy that we jealously nurtured and guarded. This is a corrupted version of democracy.”

The PDP BoT chairman alleged that the APC was “stifling democracy” through intimidation of opposition voices.

“The ruling APC believes in intimidating the opposition into submission. No democracy survives without opposition. The APC is killing Nigeria’s democracy by muzzling dissent,” he said.

Wabara described the defections as coerced, blaming the APC’s refusal to implement electoral reforms that would guarantee credible elections.

The PDP Chieftain further stated, “APC’s refusal to carry out electoral reforms that could guarantee free and credible polls is what is making some of the opposition members defect. This is more of coerced defection.”

The former Senate President also criticised the ruling party’s performance, saying it lacked capacity to address Nigeria’s economic and governance crises.

“Nigerians know very well that there is nothing attractive in the APC. It was never prepared for governance, and that is why it has continued to supervise the erosion of our democratic values. Since grabbing power in 2015, the APC has superintended Nigeria’s retrogression. Poverty and economic hardship will stand out as its greatest legacies,” he said.

Wabara dismissed fears that the defections could lead to PDP’s collapse, insisting that the party remained popular among Nigerians.

“That a few individuals decided to leave does not mean the masses have left us. The PDP remains popular among Nigerians because they know how the PDP incubated and preserved our democracy. Nigerians can take this to the bank: PDP will not die. We have come a long way and will surmount the current storm,” he said.

He also urged PDP members, particularly in the South-East, to remain steadfast, assuring them that the party would bounce back stronger ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wabara cautioned the APC not to celebrate too early, predicting that internal crises would soon test the ruling party’s cohesion.

He added, “In 2027, impoverished and suffering Nigerians, not governors, will decide the fate of the APC.”