PDP Loses Ground in Abia State as Members Defect to APC and LP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State is facing a significant setback as more chieftains of the party have defected en masse to other parties, notably the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), while the party’s secretariat has remained locked for four months.

Over 90 top officials of the PDP have reportedly left the party, with many joining the APC and others considering the LP.

This shift follows the defeat of the PDP in the 2023 election, which ended its 22-year rule in Abia State.

Among the prominent figures that have left the PDP is the immediate past Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, who has joined the APC.

The defections are seen as a response to the desire for a stable political environment, with many politicians finding the APC, as the ruling party at the national level, a more suitable platform.

While some PDP members are moving to the APC, others are reportedly eyeing the LP.

Many members of the Abia State House of Assembly, who are from the PDP, are also said to be considering joining either the LP or APC.

A former Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Professor Anthony Agbazuere, and a former Commissioner, Eze Chikanmayo, are among those who have joined the APC.

However, despite the mass defections, the PDP in Abia State has expressed confidence in its resilience.

The Deputy Chairman of PDP/acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, stated that the party is undergoing a self-cleansing exercise, with those who contributed to its failure in 2023 leaving voluntarily.

Governor Alex Otti of the LP has also expressed confidence in the strength of his party, stating that he is not worried about the defections and asserting that the LP remains intact, popular, and strong.