The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been further depleted following the defections of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and his Bayelsa counterpart, Douye Diri, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development leaves the PDP with only eight governors, down from the 11 it controlled after the 2023 general elections.
With the latest switch, the APC now controls 26 states, while the PDP holds eight. The Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have one state each.
Mbah announced his defection in Enugu on Tuesday, a move immediately celebrated by the APC leadership.
Barely 24 hours later, Diri confirmed his exit from the PDP in Yenagoa, citing “obvious reasons” for his decision to cross over to the ruling party.
As of Wednesday, the eight governors remaining in the PDP are:
Adamawa – Ahmadu Fintiri (North-East)
Bauchi – Bala Mohammed (North-East)
Plateau – Caleb Mutfwang (North-Central)
Taraba – Agbu Kefas (North-Central)
Zamfara – Dauda Lawal (North-West)
Oyo – Seyi Makinde (South-West)
Rivers – Siminalayi Fubara (South-South)
Osun – Ademola Adeleke (South-West)
Some of the governors, including Taraba’s Agbu Kefas, have recently been the subject of defection rumours, though none have been confirmed.
The fresh wave of defections comes just days after the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, admitted that the situation had unsettled the party.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday after inaugurating the party’s convention communication sub-committee, Mohammed said the defections were worrying but assured that efforts were underway to steady the party ahead of its November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan.
“If you ask me whether I am concerned about our governors leaving for APC, I am more than concerned. But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or inactions of my colleagues, but certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes,” he said.
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