From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged two significant events last week. The first was a conference of founding fathers and stakeholders, organised by elders of the opposition party, while the second was the 101st meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC). The two events bordered on the state of affairs of the opposition party and its future.
PDP leaders, who spoke at the two events were unanimous that acts of indiscipline were at the core of the challenges bedevilling the opposition party which was has been struggling to find its feet, since it was displaced as the ruling party in the 2015 general elections.
The PDP founded by the G-34, a group of eminent Nigerians, led by the late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, in 1998, fell into hard times in 2015 after it lost the general elections to the All Progressives Congress (APC). And in the past 10 years, it has been one crisis after another for the opposition party. These crises, pundits say, is what has effectively thwarted every move by the PDP to regain its dominance in the Nigerian political landscape.
Thus, the elders of the party, on the aegis of PDP Founding Fathers and Stakeholders, converged on Abuja, on Wednesday, last week, for a conference, with the theme “Reclaiming our legacy, renewing our collective vision,” to brainstorm on the challenges confronting the opposition party and chart a new course, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The PDP acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, while reflecting on the state of the opposition party, posited that most of the troubles that the opposition party has encountered since its inception are self inflicted, because the party has severally abandoned its ideology, and pandered to personal ambitions. Damagum identified the breakaway of some its members prior to the 2015 general elections, as one of the challenges that shook the opposition party.
According to him, “since our historic founding in August 1998, the PDP’s journey has been marked by triumphs and trials. Like any living institution, we have faced internal rifts, betrayals, and moments of national disappointment.
“In 2013, we witnessed one of such fractures that shook us to our very core. A group of party leaders walked away from our party, seeking new alliances. Today, we witness yet another. But history reminds us that splinters may form, but they do not define the tree. Movements built on political expediency, collapse when confronted by lasting values.
“But we must also confront the hard truth, much of the injury the PDP has suffered has been self-inflicted. From the Obasanjo era to this moment, we have too often jettisoned ideology in favour of personal ambition. This has cost us dearly.”
Recall that on August 31, 2013, some leaders of the PDP including former Vice President Atiku; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who was then the speaker of the House of Representatives; Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wammako, Murtala Nyako and Abdulfatah Ahmed, who were then governors of Rivers, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa and Kwara states respectively amongst others, pulled out of the party’s National Convention at the Eagle Square, in Abuja, and announced the formation of a parallel structure, which they christened the New PDP. Analysts say PDP’s loss in the 2025 election is not unconnected to that “rebellion”.
The new PDP eventually collaborated with the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a splinter group from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the APC. Although former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and his then Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu were part of the New PDP, the duo did not join the journey to the APC.
In the 2023 general elections, a group of five governors consisting of Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Samuel Ortom, who were then governors of Rivers, Abia, Enugu and Benue states respectively, broke ranks with PDP over disagreements arising from the nomination of the presidential candidate. However, unlike the 2013 case, they remained in the party. But worked against the party in the 2023 presidential election.
Recently, a group of PDP members, including Atiku, who returned to the opposition party in 2017 after his sojourn with the APC, joined other opposition leaders including former Senate President, David Mark for the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their preferred vehicle for the 2027 polls. Both Atiku and Mark, who has been appointed interim National Chairman of the ADC have resigned from the PDP, with Mark formally joining the ADC, while Atiku still keeps Nigerians guessing on his next political refuge. Feelers however indicate that ADC is where he is headed. Daily Sun also gathered that at the moment, some of the PDP leaders have continued to participate in the activities of the ADC, while retaining their membership of the PDP.
PDP reads riot act
The PDP NEC, at its 101st meeting, apparently in response to sentiments expressed by party leaders on party discipline and loyalty, resolved to take a hand stance against errant members, including lawmakers elected on the platform of the opposition party, who recently defected to other political platforms.
Furthermore, the party organ frowned at the participation of some of its members in the activities and meetings of other political parties, and cautioned the affected members to show loyalty to the PDP. The party organ, in a communique read by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, noted that “NEC expressed serious concern and frowns at the reported participation and involvement of some party members in the activities, meetings and gathering of another political party. NEC calls on these members to reconsider their actions and show loyalty and commitment as members of the PDP especially as the law does not permit membership of two political parties at the same time.”
The Bauchi State Governor and chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, in his speech before the NEC went into a closed door, had warned that the days of indiscipline in the PDP was over, noting that “we will not continue to condone indiscipline, because indiscipline is what brought us all the problems and challenges.”
Ironically, the PDP has repeatedly threatened sanctions against errant behaviour. However, the leadership has always lacked the will to match words with actions. Pundits say this prevarication on matters of discipline has always embolden more acts of disloyalty to the opposition party.
For instance, last August, the opposition party inaugurated a disciplinary committee to investigate and propose sanctions for PDP members, who were suspected to have engaged in anti-party activities during the last general elections. Ironically, close to one year after it was constituted, the panel, which is headed by former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, has neither recommended sanctions against any of those accused of disloyalty in the 2023 polls, nor disclosed the details of the petitions it has received in that regard.
Not a few party members are peeved that individuals ditch the party at critical moments, and when they return, red carpets are rolled out to receive them, and they are thereafter beneficiaries of leadership positions or party tickets at the detriment of loyal party members.
The former Niger governor shares these sentiments too. Aliyu, while speaking at the PDP Founding Fathers Conference said “If you recall, our major problem started probably 2013/ 2014. When in nomadic life, your own selfish interest becomes more important than the interest of the people. So, we need to understand that the lack of discipline has created this problem. We cannot keep on, knowing that the black sheep in the family keeps on destroying whatever we are building. And then you say, come back.
He added “when we went to Port Harcourt, (2018 presidential primary), No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, out of the 12 candidates, all were nomadic politicians. Our constitution is specific. You leave the party; you join the queue. The party is not just to win elections. The party is also to ensure the culture of selling real, principled politics.
“So, even if we don’t win elections, but we are one united, principled party, we will be recognised. Please, let us pay attention to what we should be doing, rather than looking at those people who will never, never, ever think of you, but only think of themselves.”
Former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki concurs. “What is baffling, however, is that people leave, others stay behind to build and grow the party, and then those who failed on their political adventures come back — and sometimes receive preferential treatment over the loyal members who stayed behind. What would have happened if everyone left? Would there be any party to return to? It’s time we set our priorities right,” Turaki declares.
Pundits say while it is good that the PDP has vowed to take decisive steps against the rising incidence of disloyalty by its members, which has greatly diminished, the onus is on the party leadership to walk the talk in that regard. There is no doubt the fortunes of the PDP in the 2027 polls will depend to a great extent on whether or not the opposition party is able to rise to this challenge.
Moreover, analysts argue that while the opposition push for sanction against errant members, it should also prioritise loyalty for members who have remained steadfast with opposition party, beginning from the choice of leaders at its November 16 National Convention. Pundits say if the PDP prioritises party loyalty in the choice of its next set of National Working Committee (NWC), it would have succeeded in sending a strong message that it is no longer business as usual. But the big question is: Can the major opposition party, do it? It seems only time will tell.
