The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was once a political force as solid as a rock. For years, its leaders boasted that the party would rule Nigeria for an uninterrupted 60 years. But the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 changed the equation, pushing the PDP into opposition for the first time since 1999. Eight years later, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, the cracks within the PDP widened dramatically—turning internal disagreements into a full-blown political crisis.
Today, the party has become a subject of national ridicule, not because of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but due to its own refusal to rebuild. From one court case to another, from suspension to counter-suspension, confusion has replaced cohesion. One moment the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, is reportedly suspended; the next moment he convenes meetings and suspends others, including governors. What used to be mere intra-party disagreement has now evolved into a political circus.
Blaming President Tinubu or the APC for the PDP’s turmoil is misplaced. No external force is responsible for the party’s internal collapse. Instead of pointing fingers outward, the PDP must urgently put its own house in order. Even the recent call on U.S. President Donald Trump to “rescue democracy” in Nigeria sounded more like a comedy script than a serious political proposition. Every nation faces political challenges, but strong parties resolve their internal disputes without externalizing blame.
How the Crisis Started
Although the PDP’s troubles did not begin today, the real cracks became visible during the Port Harcourt national convention. There, disagreements between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and then–Rivers State Governor, now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, became too deep to manage. That confrontation sowed the seeds of distrust, bitterness, and factionalism now tearing the party apart.
Deep-Seated Problems Destroying the PDP
1. Lack of Internal Discipline
Senior party members openly defy party decisions without consequences, weakening the party’s authority and credibility.
2. Multiple Power Centres
Governors, former presidents, ex-presidential candidates, and regional blocs are all battling for control. With so many competing interests, unity has become impossible.
3. Broken Zoning Agreements
By bending or abandoning its long-standing zoning formula, the PDP shattered confidence in its internal leadership structure.
4. Courts Replacing Party Leadership
Instead of settling disputes internally, members rush to court for injunctions that deepen division and embarrass the party.
5. Loss of Federal Power
After the 2015 defeat, many influential members defected, leaving behind a weakened structure incapable of enforcing discipline or driving reforms.
6. Personal Ambition Over Party Survival
Top leaders have placed personal interests above the survival and stability of the party, worsening an already fragile situation.
Why Remaining PDP Governors May Defect to APC
If decisive action is not taken, the PDP may witness a mass exodus of its remaining governors to the APC. Many are increasingly uncomfortable with the confusion in the party and the uncertainty created by conflicting court orders affecting its national leadership.
No governor wants to remain in a party where:
- leadership changes almost weekly,
- court orders contradict one another, and
- the national direction is unclear.
In politics, survival comes before sentiment. Unless the PDP resolves its crisis quickly and decisively, its governors may quietly opt for stability over loyalty.
The Road Ahead
The PDP must urgently rebuild its structures, restore discipline, and re-establish trust among its members. Once celebrated as the largest political party in Africa, it now stands at a historic crossroads: renew itself or fade into political history.
Imposition of candidates has been a major factor in the party’s decline. Leaders repeatedly forced their preferred aspirants on members, weakening grassroots trust and fueling internal rebellion. He advised the APC to learn from the PDP’s mistakes by allowing party members — not powerbrokers — to determine candidates for elections.
With the right reforms, the PDP can still reclaim relevance. But not before 2027 — the window for a major political surprise has closed. At the current pace, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Jagaban) is positioned to win re-election with a massive majority, while the PDP risks continuing its rapid descent into political irrelevance unless sincere and collective action is taken immediately.
By Chief Edet Isong, Okete Okete Oro