By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has acknowledged the dwindling number of governors in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that the party remains undeterred even as it is left with only two sitting governors. Makinde made the comments during an expanded meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja, Nigeria, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, remarks that were reported on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
The latest defection came when Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara State, formally quit the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, March 9, 2026, leaving Makinde alongside Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State as the only governors elected on the PDP platform.
Describing the situation as a “challenging period” for the party and for Nigeria’s democracy, Makinde downplayed fears of further defections. He said consultations with seasoned political actors showed none had ever seen a political landscape like this, underscoring the unprecedented exodus of senior party members from the PDP.
Despite the defections, Makinde expressed confidence that the current turmoil will pass and urged party leaders to act with historical awareness. “We are only two remaining, but we are not bothered,” he said, adding that when the story of this period is written, people will find the PDP “on the side of the people.”
Analysts say the exodus underscores deep internal divisions that have plagued the PDP since 2025, with critics warning that the party must address its structural and leadership crises if it hopes to remain a viable opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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