PDP: The plot thickens

Those who are still in doubt about the fate of the PDP and why some of its elected officials are decamping to other parties should read a letter written by INEC last week to the party’s national chairman. Dated June 13, the letter is a response to an earlier one written by the party to the electoral body, in which the party had notified INEC of its intention to hold its 100th NEC meeting.

In its response, INEC stated that the notice to hold the NEC meeting was not in compliance with the requirements of Part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, which provides that “the national chairman and national secretary of the party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the commission”.

The PDP’s letter, dated May 30 and signed solely by the party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagun, did not meet INEC’s guidelines. As a result, the party could not hold its NEC meeting, which was intended to lay the groundwork for important activities like organising a national convention.

The PDP has been embroiled in a series of intractable crises that have weakened the party and left many members confused. After the ouster of Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman in 2023, two individuals—Umar Damagun and Yayari Ahmed Mohammed—emerged as acting chairman. Damagun was appointed on March 28, 2023, while Yayari Mohammed was propped up by a different faction of the party as acting national chairman on October 11, 2024, following Damagun’s suspension by another group within the party.

The national secretary position is no less stable. The crisis began when Samuel Anyanwu was selected as the PDP governorship candidate for Imo state in 2023. The party’s south-east zone nominated the national youth leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, to replace him, citing a constitutional provision. Anyanwu, however, claimed that he did not resign as national secretary when he contested the governorship election, insisting that his tenure was valid until November 2025.

Litigation ensued. A federal high court judgment supported his argument, only for him to be sacked from his position by the court of appeal in Enugu, which affirmed Ude-Okoye as national secretary. The supreme court later overturned this decision and reinstated Anyanwu.

But the matter remains contentious, with some leaders supporting Anyanwu and others recognising Ude-Okoye. Despite the supreme court’s verdict reinstating Anyanwu, some organs within the PDP still haven’t recognised him as the valid secretary, leaving the matter unsettled. The controversy has sparked intense debate and power struggles within the PDP, affecting the party’s unity and stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

There is also the Nyesom Wike factor. Anyanwu is a close ally of the FCT minister, who, in turn, is a close associate of President Tinubu. Anyanwu’s refusal to sign the notice of the NEC meeting to INEC is seen as a plot to prevent the PDP from functioning, with the APC as the ultimate beneficiary of the chaos. By the end of this year, political parties will commence activities leading to the holding of congresses and primaries by mid-next year. If the PDP does not resolve its leadership crisis (which appears unlikely), it stands no chance of fielding candidates for the 2027 elections. This explains why elected officials who would be seeking a second term in 2027 are bailing out of the party.

Looking back, the PDP should learn from its mistakes. In the first instance, it committed a massive blunder by not expelling Wike from the party early last year when it became clear that he would be a clog in the wheel of progress. Wike is working for the advancement of the APC and the disintegration of the PDP. He’s now holding the party to ransom, fueled by his personal grievances against Atiku Abubakar. Does anybody expect Governor Umo Eno to watch idly as power plays and intrigues consume the party?

But many, like Kenneth Okonkwo—the former Nollywood actor who recently criticised Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state for leaving the party—probably do not have a keen understanding of the plots and deceptions designed to frustrate the party. I refer them to President Tinubu’s speech at the national assembly on June 12, in which he stated that he is excited to see the PDP disintegrate. That’s telling enough. Politics is all about advancing self and group interests. Governor Eno has made a judgment call to leave the PDP. His choice should be respected.

Kenneth Okonkwo himself has also moved around quite a bit. Originally in the APC, he defected to the Labour Party in 2022, where he worked for Peter Obi as his spokesperson. After the 2023 elections, he parted ways with Obi (some say he was not satisfied with his remuneration) and went on to dish out insults to the Labour Party presidential candidate. Just this week, there are reports that Okonkwo has been hired by Atiku Abubakar as a new spokesman. He will take the place of Daniel Bwala, who was with the former vice-president during the elections but has, since early this year, ported to President Tinubu as one of the numerous presidential spokespersons.