January 19, 2026

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that governors and political heavyweights who recently abandoned the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) are only beginning to face the consequences of their decision.

The opposition party made this known while responding to reports that the APC has ruled out the automatic granting of second-term tickets to governors who defected from other parties. According to the PDP, this development confirms its long-held position that the defections were driven by personal ambition rather than the interests of the people.

Speaking on the matter, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the party was neither shocked nor disappointed by the APC’s stance. He described the situation as a predictable outcome for politicians who, in his words, placed selfish calculations above public service.

Among the governors who have recently crossed over from the PDP to the ruling party are Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

In addition, the APC leadership in Kano State has hinted that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may soon follow the same path. Beyond the governors, several lawmakers, former governors, ex-ministers and prominent PDP figures have also defected to the APC.

Ememobong said the PDP had consistently warned that such moves would not yield the political security defectors were hoping for. According to him, the APC’s refusal to offer automatic tickets exposes what he described as the party’s lack of loyalty to its members.

“This outcome was expected,” he said. “The APC does not truly value those who join it. These defectors will increasingly realise that they are seen as outsiders, with limited influence and no special consideration.”

He added that the political reality within the APC would soon set in, leaving the defectors disillusioned as their expectations fail to materialise. Ememobong also noted that voters in the affected states may eventually question the decisions of their leaders, especially if the defections lead to political instability or stalled development.

“The regret has only just begun,” he said, stressing that abandoning the party that supported their rise could have long-term consequences.

Meanwhile, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) echoed similar sentiments. Its National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, said the situation validated his party’s earlier warnings about the APC’s internal politics.

Johnson alleged that the ruling party often attracts politicians with promises that are rarely fulfilled. He recalled advising some officials in Kano State to carefully consider what guarantees they would have if they defected.

“In the APC, new entrants are often left exposed,” he said. “They lure you in, but once you arrive, the rules change. Before you know it, your political options are limited and exiting becomes difficult.”

According to Johnson, many defectors may soon find themselves frustrated as their ambitions are constrained by party dynamics that favour long-standing power blocs.

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Both opposition parties insist that the unfolding situation serves as a cautionary tale for politicians who believe defection automatically guarantees political survival.