Former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda Resigns from PDP to Join APC Following Internal Crisis and Strategic Realignment

Former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda dumps PDP for APC, citing internal crisis, as he meets National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda in Abuja.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 11:07 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Trust

A Decisive Exit from the Federal Capital Opposition

The political landscape of Abuja has undergone a seismic shift following the formal resignation of Senator Philip Aduda from the Peoples Democratic Party. Aduda, who served as the Minority Leader in the 9th Senate and represented the Federal Capital Territory for over a decade, submitted his resignation to the PDP Chairman of Karu Ward on March 17, 2026. This departure marks the end of an era for the PDP in the capital, as Aduda was long considered the party’s most dominant local figure, successfully navigating multiple election cycles before his narrow defeat in 2023.

Internal Fragmentation and the Catalyst for Defection

The former Senator's resignation letter pointed directly to the persistent internal crises within the PDP as the primary motivation for his exit. While the document did not explicitly name a successor organization, the timing of his departure appears strategically aligned with a broader migration of high profile figures away from the embattled opposition party. For Aduda, the decision to leave follows months of speculation regarding his dissatisfaction with the party’s national direction and its inability to resolve localized disputes that have weakened its grip on the FCT.

High Level Negotiations at the Ruling Party Headquarters

Within hours of his resignation becoming effective, Aduda was spotted at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja for a closed door meeting. He was received by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and was accompanied by the Chairman elect of the Kuje Area Council. This appearance at the ruling party’s headquarters is widely interpreted as a confirmation of his defection, signaling that the APC is successfully consolidating its influence by absorbing veteran lawmakers who retain significant grassroots support.