Imo Lawmaker Ugochinyere Officially Dumps PDP, New Party Unveiled Ahead of 2027 Election
- Ikenga Michael Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, has defected from the PDP to the Action People’s Party (APP)
- Ugochinyere registered as a member of the APP in Akokwa, Ideato North LGA of Imo State, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Speaking at the defection ceremony, the lawmaker said the PDP was engulfed in crisis and lacked a clear sense of direction
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, elections, public affairs and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
Akokwa, Imo State - Ahead of the 2027 elections, Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Peoples Party (APP).
As reported by The Cable, Ugochinyere’s move was formally confirmed on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
Source: Facebook
Per TVC News, the legislator, who represents Ideato federal constituency (Imo State), was welcomed to the APP by the party’s leaders and his supporters.
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Speaking at the defection ceremony, the lawmaker said the PDP was engulfed in crisis and lacked a clear sense of direction.
Ugochinyere said he is severing ties with the PDP “because of all these controversies and crises, which are now a cause of distraction from concentrating on what we should be doing for our people”.
The PDP has continued to witness a wave of defections since the 2023 elections, and is now left with just four governors.
The video can be viewed below:
'PDP going into extinction' - Lagos APC
Meanwhile, the crisis-ridden PDP is going into extinction and irrelevance, the Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has said.
Lagos APC publicity secretary, Seye Oladejo asserted in a statement that the glorious days of PDP are over.
Oladejo said:
”The PDP has now become a danger to our nascent democracy – not because it is strong, but because it has failed woefully to provide the vibrant, responsible, and constructive opposition that can add value, strengthen accountability, and present Nigerians with a viable alternative.
“A democracy without credible opposition is weakened; and the PDP, in its current comatose state, offers nothing but noise without substance.
“As we continue the countdown to the 2027 national elections, the events ahead promise to be interesting."
Source: Twitter
'PDP faces legal extinction' - Showunmi
In the same vein, Segun Showunmi, the convener of the National Opposition Movement Coalition (NOMC), warned that the PDP is on the brink of ‘legal extinction’.
He said the PDP risks drifting into a leadership vacuum that could trigger non-recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a post on his Facebook page, Showunmi warned that the PDP may slide into what he described as self-inflicted legal ‘paralysis’.
Wali dumps PDP after 25 years
Legit.ng earlier reported that a former senator and diplomat, Abdallah Wali, dumped the PDP after associating with the party for over 25 years.
Wali's resignation was contained in a letter addressed to the chairman of the PDP, Sanyinna ward in Tambuwal LGA of Sokoto State. He explained that his resignation from the party was with immediate effect.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
