|By Adejumo Adekunle-
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has alleged that governors elected on the platform of the party are facing intense pressure and harassment to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the race towards the 2027 general elections gains momentum.
Ologbondiyan raised the alarm on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, insisting that the pressure on PDP governors is not a matter of personal choice but a calculated political strategy by the ruling party.
His claim comes shortly after a closed-door meeting held on Sunday between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The three political actors were seen smiling in a photograph released after the meeting, sparking widespread speculation about a possible reconciliation.
Tinubu’s Intervention in Rivers Sparks Internal Party Debate
Recalls that in March, following a prolonged political feud between Wike and his successor, Fubara, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. He also suspended the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire State House of Assembly, a decision that stirred heated debate across the country.
In the aftermath of the crisis, two PDP governors — Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom — announced their defection to the APC, blaming the internal crisis within the PDP for their move.
But Ologbondiyan dismissed that narrative, describing the defections as products of political intimidation rather than ideological disagreements.
“They are being humiliated and harassed. Whether they can openly admit it or not, they are being forced to abandon their party and join President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political movement,” he said.
He further described the reconciliation between Fubara and Wike as a political loss for the PDP, warning that if the party does not act fast, more governors could be coerced into crossing over to the APC.
PDP Urged to Regroup and Rebuild
Despite the growing tension, Ologbondiyan urged the PDP to move past the Rivers debacle and refocus on consolidating its leadership across the states. He stressed that the party must resist every form of political blackmail and remain united ahead of 2027.
“The takeaway from the Rivers situation is clear. The PDP must protect its governors from undue influence. It must not allow itself to be weakened by intimidation or forced alliances,” he added.
Ologbondiyan’s warning has sparked fresh concerns among political observers and party loyalists who fear that the APC may be engineering a systematic decimation of opposition forces in preparation for the next general election.
