Amidst a wave of high-profile defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Senate Caucus of the PDP on Tuesday declared that the party remains unshaken and robust at the grassroots. Speaking after plenary in Abuja, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), said the party was neither intimidated nor weakened by the exit of governors, senators, and lawmakers, insisting that PDP’s strength lies in its widespread grassroots appeal.
“We are not rattled,” Moro said. “We remain confident that the ordinary party members across the country still believe in the PDP. No amount of defection by political elites will erase the party’s connection to the people. Our optimism is high that the reconciliation committee led by Senator Bukola Saraki has the capacity to resolve or minimize all internal issues within the party.”
While acknowledging the recent defections as a challenge, the caucus described them as temporary setbacks that do not diminish the PDP’s stature as a national political force. Moro assured that the party was actively engaging in reconciliation processes, planning zonal congresses, and preparing for a national convention to usher in new leadership. Flanked by Senators Seriake Dickson, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Abdul Ningi, and others, Moro emphasized that PDP remains Nigeria’s leading opposition and a strong alternative to the ruling party.
On the prospect of political coalitions, the caucus welcomed the idea but maintained that such alliances must be party-led, not driven by individual ambitions. “As Nigeria’s foremost opposition party, our umbrella is big enough to accommodate all groups desiring a united front,” Moro said. Responding to questions on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s olive branch to Labour Party’s Peter Obi, Moro clarified that Atiku, like any politician, has the right to seek alliances, but the Senate caucus’s statement was focused on party direction, not personal ambitions. The caucus concluded by urging party members to remain loyal, warning that the celebration of opposition party disintegration only threatens democracy.
