More than 6,000 members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, have joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The new members, led by Mr Godwin Obasi, were formally received into the PDP by the party’s state leadership in Enugu on Saturday.

Obasi said the defectors came from all 260 electoral wards and 17 local government areas across the state.

According to him, the group decided to leave the NDC over what it described as the party’s choice of candidates who lacked sufficient popularity among voters.

He said the members collectively resolved to move to the PDP and take part in its activities ahead of the 2027 polls.

“We decided that we were going to join the PDP. It is our right and choice. So, after we congregated, we are here today to officially join the PDP,” Obasi said.

Receiving the defectors, Enugu PDP Chairman, Chief Vitus Okechi, welcomed their decision and assured them that they would enjoy equal rights within the party.

Okechi said the new members would be integrated into the party and given opportunities to participate in its activities.

The PDP governorship candidate in the state, Chief Uche Nnaji, also assured the defectors of full integration while using the occasion to criticise the state government.

Nnaji alleged that the administration had failed to deliver on some of its promises to residents and called for greater participation in what he described as an effort to change the political direction of the state.

He particularly criticised the state’s revenue policies, alleging that increased taxation had placed additional pressure on residents.

Nnaji further alleged that taxes had been extended to newborn children and deceased persons, while questioning what residents were receiving in return for the revenue being collected.

He also alleged that pensioners and retirees in the state were owed pensions and gratuities.

“Our pensioners are not being paid. Enugu is the only place where pensions and gratuities are not being paid to our people,” he said.

Nnaji also claimed that Enugu had received substantially more federal funds under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than the previous administrations of Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi combined.

According to him, the state government had received funding running into trillions of naira within about three years, which he said exceeded the combined resources received by the three former governors over 24 years.

He also questioned the state government’s internally generated revenue figures for 2025, alleging that the revenue collection process had imposed hardship on residents.

Nnaji urged residents to participate in the political process ahead of 2027, describing the mobilisation of the new PDP members as part of a broader push for political change in the state.

Meanwhile, PDP chieftain Chief Basil Ani described the defection as a boost to the party’s grassroots mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes as political parties intensify their mobilisation activities across Enugu State ahead of the general elections.