Anybody who means well for the state of Nigerian polity must be genuinely troubled by the current comatose state of the opposition. What is democracy without a vibrant opposition? Whereas one cannot say for certain the nature of the demons or afflictions, or the real motive behind the gradual extinction of most of the parties in the opposition, certainly that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot be difficult to determine.
A party that once boasted it would remain in power for 60 years a few years ago, is now on life support in an intensive care unit. PDP is practically dead. The twist of fate of the PDP is so dramatic that it strains credulity.
With about 10 governors elected in 2023, more than eight PDP governors have joined the APC. The party has lost governors in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Plateau, Taraba, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Zamfara all to the APC, while Ademola Adeleke defected from the party to the Accord Party.
Last Monday’s Appeal Court ruling has only further complicated what is already a bad situation.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, in its judgment, held that it had no reason to deviate from the trial court’s decision, which observed that the PDP violated its own laws in the process leading to last year’s November 15 and 16 convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
On October 31, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from participating in, monitoring, or recognising the outcome of the convention on the grounds that congresses were not held in many states to warrant the conduct of a national convention.
The PDP went ahead to conduct the convention despite the advice by Omotosho that the party should conduct congresses in the affected states first before proceeding with the national convention.
Now, having fought in and out of court and now battle weary you would think that every concerned party stakeholder should by now have realised that the battle for the soul of the party cannot be won by either the governors’ (Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed) faction or the faction led by Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister.
As for the governors’ faction, they have declared their intention for reconciliation but are insisting that it must be on the condition that the party must function actively as an opposition party by fielding candidates in all elections, including the 2027 presidential polls. Isn’t that reasonable enough? Shouldn’t that be a no-brainer?
Well, that is not exactly the case. It is not as simple as dodo as the faction led by Wike had severally insisted that the party should unanimously adopt President Bola Tinubu as its flag bearer in the 2027 presidential poll. Which is the main issue that turned Makinde, a one-time ally and confidant, into the sworn enemy of Wike.
Thankfully, we hear that both factions have agreed to meet to finally put aside their differences. How they will achieve that with Wike, in his characteristic triumphalism, insisting that his faction must negotiate from a position of strength, is left to be seen.
Someone should please tell Wike, in case he does not already know, that there is no strength left in the PDP, if he is sincere about the well-being of the party that made him who he is in life, he must come down from his high horse and be reasonable. PDP is a badly ailing party and is currently gasping for breath.
Wike’s arrogance and overestimation of his self-worth remains the bane of the PDP. It’s inconceivable to think that PDP will not present candidates just to please Wike.
As the leaders from both camps are already discussing reconciliation, it’s hoped that an agreement is reached as soon as possible.
Wike’s conduct within the party is very shameful. How can he consistently back APC candidates in all elections from local government to the presidential and still insist he is a member of the PDP? Just how?
The recent council polls in Abuja were another clear indication that Wike’s only interest in the PDP is to work for the APC at the detriment of PDP. By insisting that he belongs to PDP and was gladly pressurising the PDP candidates to step down for APC, Wike has convincingly proved to the world that he is only poised to see the PDP die just to satisfy his personal ambition.
His attitude in pursuing his selfish desire is unprecedented. The usual thing is for parties to secretly plant moles in opposition parties to work in their favour, but Wike’s in-your-face, devil-may-care approach to his anti-party activities is unprecedented and unequalled.
Wike cannot be allowed to have his way if the party is serious about contesting next year’s elections. The party leaders must be unanimously decisive in handling Wike’s unbridled egocentrism.
No party worth its salt will tolerate the treacherous roles Wike has continued to play, just to keep his appointment with the APC government. The PDP made Wike, and he cannot be bigger than the party that made him. He is still being heard because his appointment as the FCT minister has ensured he has a steady flow of resources to support his misconduct and misdemeanours. No matter what settlement that is eventually reached, if the party continues to tolerate and accommodate his excesses, that party will never recover from its current troubles.
What is certain is that the fate of the party is contingent on the quick resolution of the crisis amicably. Going to the Supreme Court is not the solution because whichever faction gets the verdict, both parties have to eventually sit on the table to resolve the situation. And for the resolution or settlement reached to be meaningful, Wike’s personal interests should never override that of the party.
