By Elizabeth Godwin
Former senator representing Kogi West, Tunde Ogbeha, has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing deepening internal crises and the party’s decline as reasons for his departure.
In a letter to the PDP chairman of Ward A in Lokoja Local Government Area, Ogbeha described the party as “a shadow of its former self,” plagued by leadership struggles and internal divisions.
Ogbeha, 80, said he remained loyal to the PDP through its toughest years, including after its 2015 electoral loss, when many top stakeholders abandoned the party. “I pledged to remain the last man standing,” he wrote. “I have worked steadfastly to rebuild, reconcile, and reposition the party—efforts which helped restore its national relevance.”
However, he said recent developments have made it impossible for him to continue. “Persistent leadership crisis and irreconcilable differences have reduced the party to public ridicule,” he noted.
After wide consultations with his family and political associates, Ogbeha announced his decision to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is currently leading a new opposition coalition. He said his move is part of a broader mission to rescue Nigeria and defend democratic values.
A retired brigadier general, Ogbeha served as military administrator of Akwa Ibom and the old Bendel State during the Babangida era. He was also a founding member of the PDP and served in the Senate from 1999 to 2007. His defection is seen as a significant boost for the ADC in the North-Central region.
