The recent political development in Nigeria had come with dynamism as more politicians of note were seen, daily defecting from People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the beginning of the worrisome gale of deflections, some of the high ranking members of the party had blamed the gale of deflections hitting the main opposition party in Nigeria on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that President Tinubu is frustrating the opposition parties in the country to forcefully make Nigeria, one-party state.

Unfortunately, some of the individuals who had shifted the blame of President Tinubu have now also joined those who have defected from PDP to APC or the proposed new party, All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

Consider people like former Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was recently on Atiku Abubakar's entourage to Osun State during the coronation of the newly installed Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijeshaland or the Governor of Akwa Ibom State who was also among the PDP Governors Forum who released press statement at their meetings against the suggestion that President Tinubu is attempting to lure Nigeria into one party state.

That said, the question still remain, what is chasing people out of PDP? Why is almost everyone defecting from PDP to either APC or other parties, even yet to be registered party?

The response is simple although diversities that surround the same logic will play vital role in making this statement arguable but it is evidenced that the crisis surrounding the position of the National Secretary of PDP is a major factor contributing to the gale of deflections rocking the national chapter of PDP.

Recall that, as it stands PDP has two National Secretaries and the position of the party's leadership will surely make the crisis worse, even if the leadership decide to make sacrifice in the end.

It could be recalled that the authentic National Secretary of PDP, Senator Chris Anyanwu, went to contest the Imo State Governorship election in 2023 without resigning from the party position he was holding even though constitution demands that he withdraws from such position.

During the Imo State Governorship contest, some leaders of the party who were not pleased with Senator Anyanwu's position of National Secretary approached the South East geopolitical zone for his replacement, even without mandating Anyanwu to first resign his position of the party.

Some leaders of PDP in the South East, in response, submitted name of Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye.

Unfortunate, after losing the Imo State Governorship election contest, Senator Anyanwu resumed at Office as PDP National Secretary while Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye also continue to lay claim to the same office resulting in court litigation and widespread political rift within the party across all chapters.

Consequences of Having Unresolved National Secretaries 

In the instance of the present PDP predicament, the party is entangled in a technical problem that may cost the party, all the elective positions, come 2027 general election.

The problem is that the two National Secretaries of PDP will surely bury the hope of every candidate contesting under the platform of PDP in the coming 2026/2027 elections in Nigeria.

The problem is that the main National Secretary of PDP, Senator Anyanwu who is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been sidelined by the power that be in the PDP.  So, when the power that be (Atiku's camp) pick a candidate, it is very sure Senator Anyanwu will never show up to sign the nomination form. However, he is the only National Secretary of PDP that is recognised by law and INEC.

In this case, if Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye signs any of the nomination form, the competence of the PDP candidates at whatever level will be challenged, and such candidates will be disqualified from taking part in the election or get all the votes cast in his/her favour nullified by the court.

Hence, for some of the aspiring politicians to resolve the lingering political problem within PDP, they (Governor's, Senators, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly members and other voting for elective positions in 2026/2027 election seasion are cross carpeting to All Progressives Congress (APC), another political party or joining the proposed coalition party.