Ologbondiyan’s Exit Worsens PDP’s 2025 Crisis as Defections Continue
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered yet another setback as its former National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, formally ended his long-standing membership of the party, adding to the string of prominent departures that have defined the party’s turbulent year.
Ologbondiyan disclosed his decision on Saturday through a statement on X, attaching a letter dated December 5, 2025, which he addressed to the chairman of his Okekoko Ward (09) in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. In the letter, titled “Notification of Membership Withdrawal,” he said a personal reassessment of his political engagement made it necessary for him to quit the party.
“It is now imperative to bring your attention to the fact that I have reviewed my participation in the PDP and came to the conclusion that, for personal reasons, I need to make my exit,” he wrote, adding that the withdrawal takes effect immediately.
He also extended appreciation to the party hierarchy for the platform it provided him over the years, saying he remained grateful for the opportunities to serve at various levels.
Ologbondiyan’s departure comes at a time when the PDP is grappling with one of the most destabilising phases in its history.
The year has seen a cascade of defections across its national, state, and legislative structures, movements that analysts say point to deeper internal fractures and shifting political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Five sitting governors, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, have already crossed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing concerns ranging from structural grievances to the need for political alignment with the federal government.
The exodus has not been limited to governors. In July, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar severed ties with the PDP, criticising the party for straying from its foundational values before pitching his tent with the ADC coalition.
Former lawmaker Dino Melaye also quit, accusing the PDP of losing strategic focus, while former Delta State governor and 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, defected to the APC.
Legislative blocs have equally shifted. Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly recently dumped the PDP for the APC amid the region’s prolonged political crisis. Defections have also been recorded in Kaduna, Niger, and Katsina, alongside the resignation of Senator Ned Nwoko, who joined the ruling party late in the year.
With Ologbondiyan’s announcement, the wave of departures shows no sign of slowing. His exit further highlights the widening cracks in the PDP and the rapidly changing dynamics of Nigeria’s political landscape as parties reposition for the 2027 polls.
