Speaking to journalists in Kano, Sugar cautioned Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Dauda Lawal Dare (Zamfara) against defecting, warning that such moves could weaken Nigeria’s democratic framework. He accused the APC-led federal government of attempting to coerce opposition figures into switching allegiance, a tactic he claimed undermines electoral mandates and public trust.
Sugar acknowledged growing discontent with the APC’s governance but argued that defections only deepen political instability. He insisted the PDP remains a viable force ahead of the 2027 elections, citing the performance of its governors in northern states as proof of the party’s resilience.
However, the PDP faces mounting internal strife. Recent reports by The Spectacles suggest key figures, including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Alex Otti (Abia), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), and Dauda Lawal Dare (Zamfara), alongside 18 Senators and several House of Representatives members, plan to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). A formal announcement is expected on January 23, 2026, at Abuja’s Eagle Square.
Sources cite frustration over the PDP’s unresolved internal conflicts and inability to present a united opposition. The party has already lost Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) to the APC. Its national headquarters has remained closed since October 2025 following violent clashes between factions.
Further complicating matters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined to recognize either of the PDP’s feuding factions, casting doubt on the party’s eligibility for the 2027 polls. This uncertainty has fueled defection fears, with Sugar’s appeal emerging as a last-ditch effort to stabilize the embattled opposition.
As Nigeria’s political landscape grows increasingly volatile, the coming weeks will test the PDP’s ability to retain its remaining members and reclaim its role as a credible alternative to the APC.
