A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has attributed the recent wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to what he described as threats of political persecution.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Ologbondiyan claimed that opposition leaders are joining the APC to shield themselves from potential witch-hunts.
His comments come in the wake of high-profile defections, including that of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, several commissioners, and other political figures who crossed over to the APC last month.
He said: “There is a clear pattern here. People are simply looking for refuge from harassment.
“You’ll recall that a former APC National Chairman once told Nigerians, ‘just come over to our party and we will forgive all your sins.’ That has become the operating mantra.”
Speculation is mounting that more governors may abandon the PDP and other opposition parties in the coming weeks, raising concerns about the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, Ologbondiyan downplayed the significance of the defections, insisting that electoral victory cannot be achieved through elite alliances alone.
His words: “No matter how many governors you gather, the real power lies with the people.
“You may pack all 36 governors in a boardroom and ask them to defect, but have you packed over 200 million Nigerians into the same boardroom? The answer is no.”
