The founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Dr. Udenta Udenta, has dismissed growing speculation that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the verge of collapse following the recent wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Udenta, who described the opposition party as “vibrant, strong, and deeply rooted in the people,” said the defections were merely part of a “political cleansing process” that would ultimately strengthen the PDP.

Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Udenta clarified that his earlier remarks about former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to active politics were purely analytical and not based on insider information.

“When I spoke about the former president, it wasn’t as a spokesperson. He has not declared any political interest yet. Even his membership status in the PDP is something he alone can clarify,” he said.

According to Udenta, the PDP’s endurance lies in its institutional depth and connection with the people, rather than the ambitions of a few defecting politicians.

“The PDP is alive and vibrant. What you see is just a shift among the political elite some governors who think joining the APC will serve their ambitions. But gluttony has consequences; that’s why the APC is already imploding under its own weight,” he stated.

He further criticised defecting governors, calling them “weak and cowardly” for abandoning the party without consulting their constituents.

“It’s not the people leaving; it’s individuals walking away out of cowardice and selfishness. The masses are watching in anger because these leaders never consulted them before defecting,” he added.

Udenta maintained that the current realignments within Nigeria’s political landscape could prove beneficial for the PDP in the long run.

“The burden is being shed now. The party will come out smaller but stronger, cohesive, and ready to rebound,” he said.

He described the party’s forthcoming national convention, scheduled for November 16, 2025, as a critical moment that will determine its political trajectory ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“If the PDP holds a successful convention, the party will bounce back as a more focused and united opposition,” he asserted.

Despite internal challenges, Udenta expressed confidence that the PDP’s ideological foundation remains firm and capable of producing a winning presidential candidate in 2027.

“If former President Goodluck Jonathan decides to run under the PDP and the party grants him the ticket, he will win because the people will rally behind him,” Udenta declared.

His comments come amid a flurry of defections from the PDP, the latest being that of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who joined the APC on Tuesday.

Mbah said his decision was driven by a desire to “deepen development efforts and align Enugu with a broader national vision,” insisting that the move was not for personal gain but to secure federal collaboration and opportunities for his state.

Political observers, however, say the defections underscore deepening divisions within the PDP as it struggles to reassert itself as a credible opposition force.

Still, Udenta remains optimistic: “The PDP has survived worse storms before. What’s happening now is a necessary correction a purification that will make the party battle-ready for 2027.”