Over 6,000 NDC Members Defect to PDP in Enugu Ahead of 2027 Election

More than 6,000 members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in another major political development ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defectors, led by Godwin Obasi, were formally received into the PDP by the party leadership in Enugu on Saturday. According to Obasi, the group came from all 260 electoral wards and 17 local government areas in the state.

The movement comes at a time when political parties are intensifying grassroots mobilisation across the country as preparations for the 2027 elections continue to gather pace.

Why the NDC Members Left

Explaining the reason for the defection, Obasi said the group became dissatisfied with the NDC’s choice of candidates for various elective positions.

He said the members collectively decided to leave the party and officially join the PDP, describing the move as their right and choice as politicians.

Obasi said the defectors were not drawn from only one part of Enugu State, stressing that they came from the state’s 260 wards and 17 local government areas.

“We decided that we were going to join the PDP. It is our right and choice. So, after we congregated, we are here today to officially join the PDP,” he said.

The size and geographical spread of the group make the development notable in the state’s ongoing political mobilisation, although the actual electoral impact of any defection will depend on how many of the new members remain active within their new party structures as the election approaches.

PDP Receives New Members

Receiving the defectors, the Enugu State PDP Chairman, Chief Vitus Okechi, described their decision as timely.

He assured the new members that they would enjoy equal rights and be allowed to participate fully in the affairs of the party.

The PDP governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji, also assured the defectors that they would be properly integrated into the party.

The development gives the PDP another opportunity to strengthen its grassroots structure in Enugu as political parties continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

PDP Candidate Raises Allegations Against Enugu Government

Speaking at the event, Nnaji also turned his attention to the administration of the Enugu State Government, accusing it of failing to fulfil some of its promises to residents.

He particularly criticised the state’s taxation policies, alleging that the revenue drive was placing pressure on residents without providing sufficient benefits in return.

Nnaji also alleged that pensioners and other retirees in the state were not receiving their pensions and gratuities as expected. He compared the situation with neighbouring Imo and Anambra states, claiming that pension payments were being handled differently in those states.

These were political allegations made by the PDP candidate at the defection event and should be understood as claims from the opposition rather than independently established facts.

Nnaji further claimed that the Enugu State Government had received substantial funds from the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to him, the amount received by the state in roughly three years was greater than the combined amount received by the three previous governors of Enugu State over a much longer period.

He also questioned the internally generated revenue figures reported by the state government in 2025, arguing that residents should be able to see tangible benefits from the revenue being collected.

2027 Political Activities Gather Pace

The movement of the NDC members into the PDP adds another layer to the political competition already developing in Enugu State.

With the 2027 elections approaching, political parties are increasingly focused on ward-level structures, membership mobilisation and the recruitment of influential political figures.

The NDC has also been involved in wider political realignments ahead of the election, while other opposition parties are attempting to build their own structures across the South-East.

Enugu remains particularly significant because of the region’s political history and the strong interest generated by the 2023 presidential election.

The latest defection therefore gives the PDP another political development to build on as it prepares for the next election cycle.

For the defectors, the immediate task will be to settle into the PDP structure and participate in its activities. For the party, the challenge will be converting the reported membership movement into sustained grassroots organisation ahead of the 2027 polls.