PDP Governors Under Pressure to Join APC – PDP chieftain Kola Ologbondiyan alleges that some opposition governors are being harassed into defecting to the APC amid the Rivers crisis involving Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike.
Kola Ologbondiyan says PDP governors are being harassed into joining APC, cites Tinubu’s involvement in Rivers political feud as strategic win for ruling party
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has raised alarm over what he described as growing pressure on governors elected on the party’s platform to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ologbondiyan made the disclosure on Tuesday during a live appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television breakfast programme. His comments followed a recent high-profile meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
According to the former PDP National Publicity Secretary, the crisis currently rocking the PDP—especially in Rivers State—is not the main reason behind recent defections. Instead, he claims that several governors are being “harassed and humiliated” into abandoning the opposition party for the APC.
“Talking about the Rivers situation, I will be honest. I think that the PDP did all it could, some on a negative side, others on a positive side. I think the takeaway for the People’s Democratic Party in this matter is that its governors are being harassed,” Ologbondiyan stated.
“They are being humiliated and whether they can openly say it or not, they are being forced to abandon their party and
join the All Progressive Congress and President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political party.”
He also acknowledged that President Tinubu’s intervention in the lingering rift between Governor Fubara and Wike has boosted the image of the APC while dealing a political blow to the PDP.
Tinubu had on Sunday convened a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa where he reportedly brokered a truce between the two estranged Rivers leaders.
The meeting came months after Tinubu declared a political state of emergency in Rivers State in March, suspending both Governor Fubara and his deputy, Dr Ngozi Odu, along with the state’s House of Assembly, following their protracted internal feud.
Photographs released after Sunday’s meeting showed Tinubu, Wike, and Fubara smiling together, suggesting a renewed understanding—though no official details have been made public.
Meanwhile, two PDP governors—Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom—have in recent weeks defected to the APC, both citing persistent internal crises within the PDP as justification for their decision.
Ologbondiyan urged the leadership of the PDP to look beyond the situation in Rivers State and concentrate on consolidating loyalty among the remaining governors and members of the party.
“The PDP must now refocus and strengthen internal unity. The party should not be distracted by individual disputes but rather protect its base and rebuild trust ahead of future elections,” he advised.
The unfolding developments come amid ongoing speculation that more defections may be imminent, raising concerns about the PDP’s future strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.
