PDP Governors’ Forum Shrinks to Eight as Diri Resigns, Mbah Defects

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suffered another blow this week with the defection of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Tuesday, followed by the resignation of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri on Wednesday.

This reduces the PDP’s governorship stronghold to just eight states, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) now controls 24. The opposition party has lost four governors this year alone, including Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno and Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori, who cited the PDP’s internal leadership crisis as their reason for joining the APC.

With these latest exits, the PDP’s remaining governors are spread thinly across the geopolitical zones:

  • South-West: Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun)
  • North-East: Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi)
  • North-Central: Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Agbu Kefas (Taraba)
  • North-West: Dauda Lawal (Zamfara)
  • South-South: Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers)

Enugu and Bayelsa, both PDP strongholds for 26 years, now mark significant losses for the party. Speculations suggest further defections may follow, with rumors swirling around Taraba’s Governor Agbu Kefas considering resignation.