The Peoples Democratic Party says it will not bow to pressure or intimidation, despite a new wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed what he described as a coordinated attempt to weaken the opposition and silence dissenting voices in the country.

He said the PDP remains unshaken by speculation that some of its top figures — including Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu and Douye Diri of Bayelsa — may be preparing to join the APC. Both governors have not confirmed the reports, but the rumours have stirred unease within the party.

Ologunagba insisted that no amount of blackmail or inducement would force the PDP into submission, describing the defections as “part of a grand plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.”

He added that while the political climate may appear tense, the PDP has weathered tougher storms in the past and always found ways to bounce back.

Inside the party, reactions are mixed. Some see the defections as betrayal; others believe they reveal who truly stands for the PDP’s founding principles. At the PDP’s Legacy House in Abuja, activities have intensified as the party’s National Convention Organising Committee holds a series of meetings to re-energize its base.

Speaking to journalists, Ologunagba accused the APC of using threats and inducements to lure members away, describing it as “a distraction from Nigeria’s real problems — hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship.”

He reaffirmed that the PDP remains the party of unity and hope, saying Nigerians have not “defected from suffering” and still look to the PDP for relief and stability.

Meanwhile, at the state level, tension lingers. In Enugu, members brace for possible shake-ups, while in Bayelsa, aides to Governor Diri have dismissed defection rumours as political fiction. Still, whispers persist, keeping many supporters on edge.

For Ologunagba, the moment calls for resolve rather than despair. “You cannot kill a party that represents the will of the people,” he said, stressing that the PDP’s endurance through past crises proves it is built on more than personalities — it is built on ideals.

He added that the 2027 elections would be a test of Nigeria’s democracy, not just a contest for power. “The 2027 election will not be about who holds power. It will be about who can rescue Nigeria’s democracy.”