Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde plan to leave PDP ahead of 2027 elections as defections rock the opposition party
Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State are set to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before April, continuing a wave of defections that has unsettled the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also read: Bauchi PDP Says Governor Bala Mohammed No Longer a Member
Sources familiar with party developments told DAILY POST that Bala Mohammed is moving to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while Makinde plans to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The departures follow a series of high-profile defections from PDP since the 2023 general elections. Governors including Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) have all joined APC, while Ademola Adeleke of Osun moved to the Accord Party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently revised the election timetable, requiring political parties to submit membership registers by April 21, 2026, ahead of primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30. This has accelerated defections as politicians seek new party platforms.
Meanwhile, PDP faces the possibility of missing the 2027 presidential election due to unresolved leadership disputes.
Party chieftain Omenka Thomas indicated that ongoing litigation over the validity of the Ibadan convention could prevent the party from holding a legitimate primary in time.
The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has urged PDP factions to settle differences amicably, describing the crisis as a “family dispute gone sour,” while the Abuja division of the court is expected to deliver judgment on consolidated appeals imminently.
Also read: Bala Mohammed Assures Investors in Bauchi Ahead of Summit
The unfolding defections underscore the growing instability within PDP and raise questions about the party’s ability to compete effectively in the upcoming 2027 elections.
