10 Nigerian Governors Who Defected to PDP While in Office

In Nigeria’s ever-fluid political terrain, defections between major parties have become almost routine, particularly among sitting governors.

While much focus in recent years has been on defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), there have been several key instances of governors switching allegiance to the PDP while still holding office.

This list highlights 10 governors who made political moves into the PDP during their tenure, often reshaping both state and national politics in the process.

1. Theodore Orji – Abia State

Theodore Orji was first elected governor of Abia State under the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in 2007. He made headlines in 2010 when he dumped the PPA for the PDP, citing political alignment and governance stability. His defection strengthened the PDP’s grip on the South-East at the time.

2. Isa Yuguda – Bauchi State

Elected in 2007 under the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Isa Yuguda switched to the PDP in April 2009 while still in his first term. His defection came amid growing support for the PDP in the North-East region, and he later secured re-election on the PDP platform in 2011.

3. Samuel Ortom – Benue State

Samuel Ortom was elected in 2015 as an APC candidate but defected to the PDP in July 2018, citing unresolved internal conflicts and marginalization within the ruling party. He won re-election under the PDP in 2019 and became a vocal figure in Middle Belt politics.

4. Godwin Obaseki – Edo State

Initially elected under the APC in 2016, Godwin Obaseki defected to the PDP in June 2020 after being disqualified from seeking re-election in the APC primaries. His re-election as PDP candidate marked a major political upset for the APC in the South-South.

5. Ikedi Ohakim – Imo State

Ikedi Ohakim was elected governor of Imo State under the PPA in 2007. In July 2009, he defected to the PDP, stating that joining the ruling party at the center would bring more development to his state. He sought re-election under the PDP but lost in 2011.

6. Saminu Turaki – Jigawa State

Governor from 1999 to 2007 under the ANPP, Saminu Turaki defected to the PDP in the twilight of his second term, around 2006. His move was seen as an effort to align with the then-dominant PDP in preparation for life after office.

7. Ibrahim Shekarau – Kano State

Though his governorship ended before his defection, Shekarau—a former two-term governor under the ANPP—formally joined the PDP in 2014 and became a minister in the Jonathan administration. His earlier political influence in Kano laid the foundation for PDP gains in the region.

8. Aminu Tambuwal – Sokoto State

Originally elected governor under the APC in 2015, Tambuwal defected to the PDP in August 2018. His decision followed disagreements with federal leadership. He contested the PDP presidential primary in 2019 and was re-elected governor the same year.

9. Joshua Dariye – Plateau State

Dariye, initially elected under the PDP, defected to the Labour Party in 2006 after internal party issues. Interestingly, he later returned to the PDP before his tenure ended in 2007, making his movement one of the more complex political shifts in Nigerian history.

10. Mahmud Shinkafi – Zamfara State

Shinkafi was elected governor in 2007 under the ANPP but defected to the PDP in 2008 during his first term. The defection caused significant political turbulence in Zamfara, and he later lost re-election to the ANPP in 2011.

These defections, often timed around electoral cycles or internal party disagreements, highlight the strategic nature of political affiliations in Nigeria. In most cases, governors made their moves to secure re-election, align with power at the center, or resolve intra-party crises.

As Nigeria approaches the next general elections in 2027, more such realignments are expected, reaffirming the adaptability of political actors within the country’s democratic framework.