PDP Faces Collapse Risk As Defections Threaten Its Opposition Status In House Of Reps

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly on the brink of losing its status as the leading opposition party in the House of Representatives following a series of defections that have significantly weakened its numerical strength.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Findings reported by Punch suggest that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is quickly gaining influence and could soon overtake the PDP as the dominant opposition bloc in the lower chamber.

The ADC’s growing momentum has been linked to high-profile political realignments involving figures such as Atiku Abubakar, David Mark, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rauf Aregbesola. The party’s rise was further boosted after Rabiu Kwankwaso joined its ranks, triggering additional defections from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

At least seven NNPP lawmakers from Kano State have reportedly moved to the ADC, increasing its strength in the House to about 24 members. Meanwhile, the PDP’s numbers have dropped sharply to around 30 lawmakers, down from 116 following the 2023 elections.

A North-East lawmaker who spoke anonymously told Punch that the PDP’s position as the main opposition party may soon be overtaken. He noted that more defections are expected to be formalised on the floor of the House in the coming days.

According to him, if the trend continues, the ADC could emerge as the new leading opposition party and take over the minority leadership roles.

Another lawmaker blamed the PDP’s decline on prolonged internal crises, saying the party has paid a heavy price for unresolved leadership disputes.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has also benefited from the wave of defections, further strengthening its majority in the House.

Observers note that while past defections mostly favoured the ruling party, the ADC is now positioning itself as a consolidated opposition platform, capitalising on dissatisfaction within the PDP and other smaller parties.

There are also indications that further defections from states such as Bauchi could deepen the PDP’s challenges.

Traditionally, the largest opposition party in the House produces the Minority Leader and other principal officers, meaning that if the ADC surpasses the PDP in numbers, it could assume those key positions.