Mass Exodus: Natasha Laments PDP's Loss of 31 Senators

Saturday's inauguration of the PDP Convention Committee in Abuja marked a pivotal moment for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who lamented the significant decline in the number of senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, with the party having lost 31 lawmakers in the Red Chamber amidst its prolonged internal crisis.

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Akpoti-Uduaghan's concerns were echoed in a statement issued on Sunday by her media aide, Mike Idoko, which highlighted the scale of defections that have weakened the PDP's presence in the Senate.

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Addressing party members and the media in Abuja, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed optimism that the inauguration marks a turning point for the PDP, stating that she was "extremely elated" to see the party take a crucial step towards rebuilding unity.

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She recalled the steady decline in the party's Senate representation, attributing it to the leadership crisis that rocked the PDP in recent times, noting that the party's Senate representation had dwindled from 37 to just six since she joined in late November 2023.

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Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that many of her colleagues who defected from the party cited internal party disputes as the reason for their departure, but she believes that the situation has now been addressed, and she welcomed them back to the PDP.

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Former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, in his inaugural acceptance speech as Chairman of the PDP 2026 National Convention Committee, described the event as a critical moment in the party's history, stating that "today is not just ceremonial, it is consequential."

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Ikpeazu acknowledged the internal challenges and legal battles that had threatened the party's unity, noting that they tested both its institutional strength and collective resolve, and highlighted the affirmation of the National Caretaker Working Committee by the appellate court as a fresh opportunity for renewal.

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He emphasized that reconciliation must be central to the party's rebuilding efforts, urging members to move beyond divisions and to "have the courage to listen to one another, the humility to admit where we went wrong, and the strength to forgive."

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Ikpeazu charged stakeholders across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to support the process with discipline and a shared sense of purpose, stating that the mission is to deliver a smooth, transparent, and widely accepted convention that will produce a credible National Working Committee.

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The convention committee chairman's goal is to reposition the PDP for victory in the 2027 general elections, and the inauguration of the convention committee is widely seen as a crucial step toward stabilising the PDP and rebuilding trust among its members.