𝗣𝗗𝗣 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧 4.3 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗔𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗠

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

1𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹, 2026.

Nigeria’s main opposition party, the (PDP), has recorded a major boost in its grassroots base, announcing that its nationwide digital membership drive has surpassed 4.26 million registered members as of March 31, 2026.

The figures, released in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, , are being framed by party leaders as clear evidence of sustained public loyalty, even as defections continue to shake Nigeria’s political landscape.

According to the data, the party’s support base remains almost evenly divided across the country, with the North accounting for 2.16 million members (50.6 percent) and the South contributing 2.11 million (49.4 percent). Despite this near balance, the South-West stands out as the PDP’s strongest zone, recording over 953,000 members. It is followed by the South-South and North-Central, while the South-East posted the lowest figures, underscoring uneven regional penetration.

At the state level, Kaduna leads with more than 408,000 registered members, while Edo, Oyo, Ogun, and Kano form a strong second tier, highlighting the party’s continued relevance across key political battlegrounds in both the North and South.

A deeper look at the demographics shows that the party’s growth is being driven largely by younger Nigerians. The 18–40 age bracket accounts for 40.3 percent of total registrations, ahead of the 41–60 group at 30.7 percent and those aged 61 and above at 28.9 percent. Gender distribution reflects a slight male majority, with women making up a notable 45.2 percent of the total, suggesting increasing female engagement in the political process.

Responding to concerns about recent defections, Ememobong insisted that the numbers tell a different story about voter sentiment. He argued that while some politicians may be switching allegiances, the electorate itself remains firmly rooted.

“This exercise has shown clearly that politicians may be switching camps—but the electorate is not following them,” he said.

Operational data from the exercise further points to a functioning grassroots structure, with an average of 24 members recorded per polling unit and about 484 members across each of the 8,809 wards nationwide. This, party insiders say, reinforces the PDP’s long-standing reputation for maintaining a deep and widespread political network.

Describing the three-week registration process as both demanding and successful, the party leadership has approved an extension of the exercise until April 30 to accommodate more prospective members. With momentum building, the PDP appears to be positioning itself as a resilient opposition force, quietly consolidating strength ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 general election.