Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of orchestrating the ongoing crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), warning that Nigeria could devolve into a one-party state if the PDP fails to resolve its leadership issues.
Shaibu alleged that Tinubu’s long-standing strategy of dominating the political landscape, which he employed during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, is now being applied at the national level to weaken opposition parties.
Shaibu expressed his concerns in a statement on Wednesday, claiming that Tinubu is deliberately destabilizing the PDP to ensure his political dominance.
“We know his tactics well,” Shaibu said. “Even as governor, Tinubu operated a one-party system in Lagos for over 20 years, stifling any real opposition. What we are seeing now is a national extension of that strategy.”
He further accused the ruling party of deliberately fanning the flames of the PDP’s internal crisis, particularly the unresolved issue of its national chairmanship.
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“From the 2023 elections to today, it’s clear that the ruling party has been stoking divisions within the PDP,” Shaibu remarked. “They’re more focused on creating chaos in our ranks than addressing the country’s pressing issues like poverty and hunger.”
Several eyewitnesses within the party have also echoed Shaibu’s sentiments, claiming that certain individuals within the PDP are aiding Tinubu’s agenda for personal political gains.
“Instead of focusing on governance, they’re using the PDP’s troubles as a way to secure political patronage,” Shaibu added.
He criticized some PDP governors for failing to stand up to these divisive tactics, accusing them of aligning too closely with the ruling party.
“Some of our governors have surrendered their leadership roles to one man, making it difficult for them to speak the truth,” Shaibu lamented. “What we see now are leaders playing to the gallery, rather than sincerely working for the party’s future.”
Shaibu also highlighted the recent remarks by certain PDP figures who argued that Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, should not contest in 2027 due to his age.
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He pointed out the hypocrisy in such statements, noting that those same individuals are supporting Tinubu’s continued presidency, despite his advancing age. “Illiteracy is a misfortune,” Shaibu quipped, “and those making such statements need to understand the contradictions in their arguments.”
Austin Okai, a former House of Representatives candidate, called for a broader approach to resolving the crisis, suggesting that the search for a new PDP national chairman should extend to the entire North Central zone.
He mentioned prominent figures like former Senate President Bukola Saraki and other influential leaders from Kogi, Kwara, and Niger states as potential candidates who could help stabilize the party.
Okai stressed that the decision on the next chairman should not rest solely with Benue State, where suspended Chairman Iyorchia Ayu hails from. “The North Central leadership must play a decisive role in choosing Ayu’s successor,” Okai insisted, adding that fresh leadership is necessary to steer the party back on course.
As the PDP continues to grapple with its internal challenges, Shaibu’s warning of an emerging one-party state has added urgency to the calls for resolution, with many fearing that Nigeria’s democratic future could be at stake.