PDP in peril: Governors’ “Marshall Plan” faces internal revolt, 2027 ambitions threatened

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once a dominant force in Nigerian politics, finds itself teetering on the edge of a precipice. The aftermath of the 2023 general elections has unleashed a torrent of crises, fracturing the party from its national leadership down to state and zonal chapters.

The once-formidable opposition party is now grappling with a complex web of internal disputes, threatening its very foundation.

Beyond the ongoing turmoil surrounding the national chairmanship and secretary positions, at least twelve state chapters, along with the South South and South East zones, are embroiled in bitter struggles for control of party structures.

The PDP’s descent into chaos began shortly after its presidential primary, triggered by the G-5 governors’ demand for the removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman.

Ayu’s eventual ouster and replacement by acting chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum ignited further controversy, with the North Central zone insisting on a substantive chairman from their region.

However, the most contentious issue remains the dispute over the national secretary position, which has kept the party in a state of perpetual crisis since the beginning of the year.

The South East chapter’s nomination of Sunday Ude-Okoye as a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu, following Anyanwu’s emergence as the Imo State governorship candidate, has been fiercely contested.

A series of court rulings, including a Supreme Court verdict nullifying an Appeal Court decision in favor of Ude-Okoye, has only deepened the divide.

In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, the PDP Governors Forum convened in Ibadan, Oyo State, to devise a “Marshall Plan” for the party’s rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The governors, wielding significant influence in the party, outlined four key resolutions: affirmation of Anyanwu’s ouster, appointment of an acting national secretary, a commitment to no coalition or merger for 2027, and a schedule for a national convention.

However, the governors’ unity of purpose was immediately called into question when Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, publicly declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s reelection.

This open defiance of the party’s stance has raised concerns about potential defections and further destabilized the PDP.

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Despite the challenges, analysts believe that the PDP’s survival hinges on genuine reconciliation, decisive action against anti-party activities, and an equitable zoning formula for party positions and the 2027 presidential ticket.

PDP NEC member Eddy Olafeso emphasized the need for disciplinary measures against erring members, stating, “If you are not obeying the laws of the party, and you are contravening the constitution of the party, you are an offender. And there is no reason why you can’t be sanctioned within the confines of the constitution of the party and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The PDP’s current predicament is rooted in disagreements over the zoning of the 2015 presidential ticket.

The party’s decision to throw open the 2023 ticket, against expectations that it would be ceded to the South, has exacerbated existing tensions and contributed to its electoral defeat.

The governors’ ability to reconcile internal factions, enforce party discipline, and establish an acceptable zoning formula will be crucial in determining the PDP’s future.

Pundits emphasize the immediate necessity of convening the long-overdue National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, proposed for May 27, 2025, as a critical step in addressing the party’s deep-seated issues. The NEC, the party’s second-highest organ, last met on April 18, 2024.