This is indeed not the best of time for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Nigeria.
Apart from sliding from ruling party to opposition group, the party has in the recent years been staggering from one crisis to the other, leading to mass defection of the members to other parties.
From winning 20 out of 36 states in 1999 and ruling Nigeria for 16 years and producing 3 presidents, PDP’s dominance has shrunk to just 2 states.
WITHIN NIGERIA takes a look on the rise and fall of the biggest political party in Nigeria and its political implications.
Findings by our reporter showed that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 20 out of 36 governorship seats in the 1999 Nigerian general elections.
By and large, this victory allowed the PDP to dominate the start of democracy in Nigeria and political landscape in the country.
The Fourth Republic was very rosy for the party as it was leading in most northern and eastern states, while other parties like the APP and AD dominated other regions.
Statistics showed that PDP controlled 20 states, All Progressives Party, APP had 9 while AD dominated six states.
However, following the 2003 general elections in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured a dominant victory, winning governorships in 27 out of the 36 states.
This marked a significant increase from their 21 governorships in the 1999 elections, establishing control over most states in the country.
The PDP won 27 states, extending their influence across the federation, solidifying the party’s control and in the other hand reducing the influence of opposition parties like AD and ANPP.
During the 2003 elections, the PDP won in states like Osun, Ogun, and many others.
In any case, following the 2007 Nigerian general election, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) again secured a dominant victory, initially winning 26 to 29 of the 36 state governorships according to varying reports and subsequent legal challenges.
Findings showed that this massive win was part of the 2007–2011 gubernatorial term, where the party held a commanding majority.
Prominent PDP governors after the 2007 election included Theodore Orji (Abia), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and many others.
Through the 2007 elections was marked by controversy and legal challenges resulting to the reduction in the initial number of the PDP maintained dominance in 29 states.
Some of the elections were overturned by the courts resulting to rerun and outright handover over to candidates of other parties.
In the 2011 general elections People’s Democratic Party (PDP) held a strong majority, securing 23 governorship seats.
The party lost some states after winning 23 states. This continued their dominance from the 2007–2011 term,
The 2015 general elections was a huge blow to the ruling PDP in the country.
Findings showed that since 2015 general elections, the party has continued lose its dominance and membership in the country.
Apart from losing the presidential election to APC, the party has been riddled with one crisis or the other.
However, the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, which marked a major power shift, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) saw a significant reduction in its number of governors.
At the end of the general elections, the party finished with 13 governors after losing its majority to APC and other parties.
According to statistics, PDP won 13, 1 All Progressives Congress (APC), won 21, Labour Party won 1.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that before the 2015 elections, major defections in 2013 and 2014 saw several PDP governors defect to the opposition APC.
Following the 2023 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won governorships in 10 states. While the party held 13 states prior to the election, they lost key states but won in others, resulting in 10 governors-elect, though some results faced legal challenges, bringing the total in 2023 to 10-13, depending on the exact timing
Current PDP Governors (as of early 2026)
Few months to the general elections in 2027, the country has continued to witness unprecedented defection from PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
At the moment, the only two governors still in PDP are Senator Bala Muhammed (also Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum) and Oyo state Seyi Makinde.
As of 9 March 2026, there are 31 states with APC governors, 2 states with PDP governors, and 1 state each with Accord, APGA, and Labour governors.
Political implications of PDP weakening
Though the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria, particularly following significant gains in the 2023 elections and subsequent defections, has established a formidable two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly as of December 2025, the current wave defection to the party is to say the least, not a political profit to the country.
With control over 30 to 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, this unprecedented concentration of power has brought far-reaching implications for Nigerian democracy and governance.
Legislative “Rubber-Stamping” and Power Consolidation:
The APC’s two-thirds majority (surpassing 73 senators) allows the party to independently pass critical legislation, amend the constitution, and override vetoes.
Political analysts are of the opinion that the National Assembly has become a “Yes Sir” institution, weakening its role as a check on the executive branch.
Weakening opposition
The “gale of defection” from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties, driven by political greed and strategic realignment, has diminished opposition voices in the Senate to around 30 members.
This fragmentation raises concerns about the potential for a one-party state, reducing the political space for alternative viewpoints.
Enhanced Electoral Advantage
The consolidation of power in state houses and at the center provides the APC with a significant structural advantage for the 2027 election. By controlling the vast majority of state governorships, the party can influence grassroots mobilization and state-level electoral processes.
Transaction Politics over Ideology
Political shifts are often driven by personal interest and access to resources rather than ideological alignment, leading to “transactional” politics where politicians shift to the ruling party for protection or gain.
Governance and Policy Implementation
On the positive side, this concentration of power may allow for smoother implementation of federal reforms and policies, reducing the partisan gridlock that has previously hindered governance. However, this speed may come at the expense of necessary debate and deliberation.
Erosion of Accountability and Public Trust
The absence of a strong opposition and the concentration of power can lead to reduced accountability in governance. Some observers warn that unchecked power, combined with economic hardships, could lead to increased citizens’ apathy and disillusioned voters, ultimately threatening democratic consolidation.
