The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Federal Government of deliberately using access to development and federal support as leverage to pressure opposition governors and elected officials into defecting to the ruling party.
The opposition party warned that the growing wave of defections poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections.
The allegation was made on Friday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, during a live television interview in which he addressed the shrinking political space and the recent exits of prominent party members.
According to Ememobong, the trend of defections is driven by a belief among political leaders that alignment with the central government is necessary for their states to attract development.
He described the situation as evidence of a deeply flawed system where governance benefits are dispensed based on political loyalty rather than constitutional entitlement.
“When people say they must ‘connect to the centre’ to bring development home, it shows that the system is not egalitarian. It suggests that development has become a political reward, not a right,” he said.
Ememobong argued that such a structure undermines democracy and weakens federalism, noting that no state should be denied development because of its political affiliation.
He also admitted that internal challenges within the PDP contributed to the crisis, particularly the party’s post-2023 election approach of restraint and reconciliation toward members accused of anti-party activities.
According to him, what was initially viewed as patience and forbearance later emboldened some individuals to further undermine the party’s unity.
The PDP spokesman said the party’s leadership has now begun corrective measures, including strategic meetings with state chairmen, ex-officio members and lawmakers to assess the situation across the states and reposition the party.
He dismissed claims that a rival faction controls the party’s structure, insisting that the PDP’s leadership remains intact and unified under its recognised national framework.
Ememobong added that the party is awaiting final judicial pronouncements to resolve lingering leadership disputes, expressing confidence that clarity from the courts would help stabilise the opposition.
Looking ahead, he said the PDP has a long history of political recovery and resilience, stressing that popular support among citizens would ultimately outweigh elite political manoeuvres.
“Our strength lies with the people. History has shown that even from a position of weakness, we have rebuilt before, and we will do so again,” he said.
