CALABAR – In a move that has further depleted the ranks of the main opposition, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Duke formalised his defection on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Ward 5, Calabar Municipality, where he was issued his new membership card. The former governor, who has long been a vocal critic of the current political trajectory, described the move as a necessary step toward building a credible “Third Force” to rescue the nation.
A Growing ‘Third Force’
Duke’s defection is seen as a major boost for the ADC, which is rapidly becoming the primary sanctuary for high-profile political heavyweights. His registration coincides with reports that other giants, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are gravitating toward the ADC platform to form a grand coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“The PDP has lost its way, and Nigerians are looking for a platform that prioritises competence over partisan interests,” a source close to the former governor stated.
History of Political Realignments
This marks Duke’s second exit from the PDP. He first left in 2018 to run for the presidency under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), before returning to the PDP in 2021. His latest move to the African Democratic Congress suggests a final break from his former party as he joins the “Manifesto Committee” tasked with shaping the ADC’s 2027 roadmap.
The ADC leadership in Cross River has hailed Duke’s entry as a “game-changer,” predicting a massive wave of defections from both the PDP and APC in the coming weeks.
Will Donald Duke’s exit trigger a total collapse of the PDP structure in Cross River, or can the party survive the departure of its most iconic former governor?
