The unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition platform for the 2027 general election is already sparking fresh defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with more prominent members expected to resign in the coming days.
Insiders say several PDP stalwarts involved in the new coalition plan to take control of ADC structures in their states and would soon announce their departure from the opposition party.
Following a high-level meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, PDP leaders, including former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, former senate president David Mark, and ex-governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, said the party was now a shadow of its former self.
The politicians, who called on Nigerians and PDP members to join the new coalition ahead of 2027, described the alliance as the country’s best chance to rescue democracy.
Also present at the meeting were Liyel Imoke, Babangida Aliyu, Gabriel Suswam, and Sam Egwu – former governors of Cross River, Niger, Benue and Ebonyi states, respectively, as well as former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, ex-police affairs minister Waziri Maina, senators Abdul Ningi and Tunde Ogbeha, and former external affairs minister Tom Ikimi.
Hours later, a letter dated June 27 surfaced, in which Mark formally resigned from the PDP.
In the letter to the chairman of Otukpo ward in Benue state, Mark cited deepening divisions and a persistent leadership crisis within the party as his reasons for quitting.
“You may recall that over the years, I have remained firm and deeply committed to the ideals of the PDP… However, recent events… have reduced the party to a shadow of its former self,” he wrote.
Mark added that after consulting family and political allies, he had resolved to join the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement, which includes the ADC, in a bid to help “rescue our nation and preserve our hard-earned democracy.”
According to Daily Sun, more PDP figures aligned with the coalition are preparing to leave the party, although some are expected to remain in the PDP while working secretly for the ADC during the 2027 elections.
Kingsley Chinda, minority leader of the House of Representatives, confirmed that the ADC’s emergence as a coalition platform could trigger defections not just from the PDP but also from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Chinda, however, questioned the coalition’s long-term prospects.
“Let me say that the coalition is not a political party. It is a group of politicians… trying to come together to set up a new political front,” he said.
“I will not say that I wish them well because I do not wish them well. But I want to tell them that you don’t build a house midway and leave it to start building another one.
“There is no doubt that it might trigger defections because more persons, both from PDP and APC, are likely to attempt to find greener political pastures among them. But how far can it go?”
Also reacting, Eddy Olafeso, a member of the PDP board of trustees, admitted that the party may suffer more defections but expressed confidence that new members would also join.
“We must learn from history. We must embrace our party. If things went wrong, nobody can absolve himself from the mistakes of the past,” Olafeso said.
He appealed to aggrieved members to remain and help fix the PDP rather than desert it.
“More will leave. More will come in. But we will not stop appealing to all to see reason… When things go wrong, do we just run away?” he asked.