The Northern Elders Unity Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of using government influence and resources to lure party members into joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The elders described the development as a deliberate plot to weaken the PDP’s structure in the North West region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released after a consultative meeting with PDP leaders from Kaura Namoda, Zurmi, Tsafe, and Bungudu local government areas, the Forum’s National Secretary, Dr Abbas Sadauki, expressed deep concern over the mass defection of members, particularly in Zamfara and Kaduna states. He claimed that Matawalle had been using his office and financial strength to destabilize the party’s leadership at the grassroots level.
Sadauki alleged that over 24,000 PDP members had recently defected to the APC in Zamfara alone, including several former party executives and elders. He described the defections as a worrisome development capable of creating a vacuum within the PDP’s political base in the region. “The minister appears desperate to weaken the PDP’s structures in Zamfara and across the North West, ahead of the 2027 polls,” he said.
According to him, the use of political power and federal appointments to entice loyal party members represents a dangerous trend that could endanger the nation’s democracy. He urged President Bola Tinubu to call the minister to order to prevent further tension and political instability in the North.
Reacting to the situation, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the defections as part of a broader strategy to silence opposition voices. He said, “No amount of blackmail or intimidation can weaken the PDP. These defections are politically motivated attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.”
Despite the wave of defections, the PDP elders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the party and protecting democratic values. They vowed to rebuild trust among members and resist all efforts to suppress opposition participation in Nigeria’s political system ahead of the next general elections.
