PDP Accuses APC of Using Blackmail, Intimidation to Force Governors’ Defection

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using undemocratic tactics, including blackmail, intimidation, and inducement, to pressure its members—particularly serving governors—into defecting.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made the allegations on Thursday while reacting to comments by a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, who claimed that two PDP governors were preparing to join the APC.

Ahmad had posted on X (formerly Twitter) on October 7 that the Governor of Taraba State and another governor from the North-West region would soon defect to the ruling party.

In response, Ologunagba accused the President Bola Tinubu-led APC government of trying to “decimate the opposition” in order to create a one-party state, saying most defections from the PDP were not voluntary.

“The defections you see today are instigated by inducement, harassment, coercion, and intimidation, and I can assure you that it won’t last,” Ologunagba said.

He added that the PDP remained strong and united, stressing that while some individuals might leave, many others were returning to strengthen the party.

“A party is not about individuals but about the people. We have more diverse Nigerians working for the PDP today. More and more people are returning because the PDP is getting itself together,” he added.

The party maintained that it would continue to resist all attempts to suppress political plurality and vowed to defend Nigeria’s democracy from what it described as the APC’s creeping authoritarianism.