PDP Moves to Reclaim Mandates of Defected Lawmakers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to take legal action against all lawmakers who defected from its platform.

It insists that such defections amount to a forfeiture of their seats under the Nigerian Constitution.

This decision was part of the resolutions reached at the 101st meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), held yesterday, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Abuja, as contained in a communique signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.

PDP said it would leave no stone unturned to reclaim every seat that rightfully belongs to it.

According to the communique, the NEC directed the National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately commence legal proceedings to recover the mandates of all legislators in both the National and State Assemblies who were elected on the PDP’s platform but have since defected to other political parties.

“By virtue of the self-executory provision of Sections 68 (1) (g) and 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), such defectors have irredeemably lost their seats, there being no division or merger with regard to the PDP,” the party declared.

The PDP expressed concern over the increasing trend of political defections, which it described as “betrayal of the people’s mandate.”

While assuring members of its renewed unity and focus, the NEC reaffirmed that the PDP remains a strong opposition party, committed to leading efforts to “rescue the country from the catastrophic misrule of the APC.”

The NEC also approved the timetable for its 2025 Elective National Convention, scheduled to take place from November 15 to 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers will be elected.

Recall that in Osun State, Senators Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (Osun East) and Olubiyi Oluwole Fadeyi (Osun Central) publicly exited the PDP and joined the APC.

Their defection letters were read on the Senate floor on June 12 and July 23, respectively .

Similarly, two PDP members of the House of Representatives from Osun – Taofeek Ajilesoro of Ife Central/East/North/South Federal Constituency and Omorin Olusanya of Atakunmosa East/West‑Ilesa East/West Federal Constituency – also left the party and crossed to the APC.

In the same vein, the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, Oluwole Oke also defected from APC to PDP.

The party had in May 2024 asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare the seat of the six-term lawmaker vacant