By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in the eye of the storm in 2025 as the party suffered one blow after another, following defections of its members, including legislators and governors elected on the party’s platform in 2023, to other parties.
The PDP, which controlled 12 states after the 2023 general elections, only has four states under its control at the end of 2025, while eight defected to other political parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
With the defection of governors who were previously in the PDP, the APC now controls 28 states, while the Labour Party (LP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Accord Party hold one state each.
As of Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the governors still in the PDP are: Seyi Makinde of Oyo State (South-West), Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State (North-East), Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State (North-East), and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State (North-West).
These defections, with two occurring within 24 hours, have further weakened the opposition party, especially in the South-East and South-South regions, which were previously considered its strongest hold.
Among the reasons cited by the defectors is the internal leadership crisis rocking the party as two factions of the party, one loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the other led by Tanimu Turaki, fight dirty for the soul of the party, with each claiming legitimacy.
As the year 2025 wraps up, Impact Nigeria Newspaper highlights the eight governors who defected from the PDP to other political parties in the year due to the internal wrangling and leadership upheaval in the party.
1. Sheriff Oborevwori
Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State was the first PDP governor to bolt out of the party to the APC in 2025.
The governor defected to the APC in April 2025, alongside the immediate past governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and all members of the PDP in Delta State.
The defection was announced by Senator James Manager, who described the PDP as being “in a sinking boat,” shortly after a meeting that lasted over six hours at Government House, Asaba.
In an official confirmation of the defections, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu Charles, said the move was to further bring development to the state.
2. Umo Eno
The second PDP governor to join the gale of defections to the APC was the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, who formally left the PDP and joined the APC in early June.
Eno said the decision was taken after months of consultations, stating that he intends to position the state for stability and development.
He added that his decision to join the APC was borne out of his admiration for President Bola Tinubu and the need for Akwa Ibom State to align with the Federal Government to reap continuous benefits, and assured the people of Akwa Ibom State that he would continue to work tirelessly for their benefit, regardless of party affiliation.
Eno’s defection led to political realignments at the state level, with members of his cabinet also joining the APC, while those who didn’t resign their appointments.
3. Peter Mbah
The Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, the only governor elected on the platform of the PDP in the South East region in 2023, formally joined the APC on Tuesday, October 14.
Mbah, while announcing his defection at a press conference in Enugu, said the move was aimed at advancing the state’s interests, stating that joining the APC would provide greater opportunities for collaboration and growth.
He said, “Today, after a long period of reflection, we have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC. We share a vision that transformation must be disruptive.
“I have found in His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow.”
Like Eno’s, all the cabinet members of Mbah’s government also followed him to the APC.
4. Duoye Diri
Barely 24 hours after Peter Mbah defected to the APC, his Bayelsa State counterpart, Duoye Diri, took the same path, citing “obvious reasons.”
While officially joining the APC on Monday, November 3, Diri said his decision was aimed at preventing Bayelsa from being dragged down by the PDP’s internal collapse and a broader Ijaw political realignment.
5. Siminalayi Fubara
On Tuesday, December 9, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, announced his defection from the PDP to the APC to ‘fully identify’ with President Bola Tinubu and as a “gesture of reciprocity” for the consistent support, cooperation, and encouragement his administration has received from President Tinubu since the political crisis that shook the state in late 2023.
He said, “The truth is that without President Tinubu, there won’t be any ‘His Excellency Siminalayi Funara.’ Our only thank you to Mr President is to support him, and we cannot support him in isolation.
“We cannot support him if we don’t identify with him fully, not backyard support. So we have made a decision today that everyone here who has followed me, suffered with me, our decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC.”
Fubara’s defection came less than a week after 15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Martin Awaewhule, defected to the APC.
6. Ademola Adeleke
After resigning his membership of the PDP on December 2, citing the current crisis within the national leadership of the party, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, formally joined the Accord Party on Tuesday, December 9.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Adeleke said he joined the Accord Party on November 6 after weeks of consultation and deliberations with stakeholders and opinion leaders.
He noted that his defection was for the good of the people of the state and expressed optimism of winning the governorship election, which would be held in August 2026, to consolidate “ongoing delivery of good governance and democratic dividends.”
Adeleke was confirmed as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate for the August 2026 governorship election in the state, after delegates unanimously endorsed him in a primary held on Wednesday, December 10.
7. Kefas Agbu
After months of his rumoured defection, Governor Kefas Agbu of Taraba State officially defected from the PDP to the APC on December 14, citing his desire to align with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda and attract development projects to the state.
Agbu had initially planned to announce his defection on November 19 but postponed the move due to the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
8. Caleb Mutfwang
Like his Taraba State counterpart, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State was rumoured to join the APC from the PDP, which he repeatedly denied.
During the APC’s 14th National Caucus meeting on December 17, the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, announced Mutfwang’s defection to the party.
Mutfwang noted that he joined the APC in the overall interest of the state and upon the invitation of President Tinubu, while further citing the national leadership crisis within the PDP.
