PDP Faces Defections and Court Rulings Ahead of 2026 Elections

Nigerian opposition leader Peoples Democratic Party faces deepening internal turmoil as a wave of high-profile defections and adverse court rulings threaten its cohesion ahead of key 2026 elections.

On Thursday, nine senators from various parties, including prominent PDP member Aminu Tambuwal representing Sokoto South, formally defected to the African Democratic Congress, further eroding the PDP's parliamentary strength. Tambuwal, a former Sokoto State governor, cited persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements, and divisions within the PDP as reasons for his resignation. In a statement from his media office, he expressed belief that Nigeria requires a stronger platform grounded in integrity, inclusiveness, accountability, and national development. The defections, announced during Senate plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also included lawmakers from the Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and Social Democratic Party. Akpabio welcomed the senators to their new party but rejected claims of interference by the ruling All Progressives Congress, noting that the shifts stemmed from opposition parties' internal problems. Following the moves, the PDP's...