By Ebiere Kekeboro
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to hold a crucial meeting to address the recent wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and internal crises plaguing the party.
The National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, will discuss the defections, upcoming congresses, and the forthcoming National Executive Committee meeting.
The meeting comes as the PDP grapples with one of its most difficult times since its formation in 1998. Several members, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Vice Presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, have defected to the APC. The defections have sparked concerns about the PDP’s future and its ability to compete with the ruling APC in the 2027 general election.
Read Also:Oborevwori, Omo-Agege in Power Struggle as Delta PDP Defects to APC
PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has faced intense criticism for his leadership, and the party’s internal strife has disrupted operations at all levels. The party’s zonal structures, particularly in the South-South, have been severely weakened, and conflicts over the position of National Secretary have further split the NWC.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu, recently reaffirmed as National Secretary by the Supreme Court, has vowed to attend the meeting despite the stance of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed-led PDP Governors Forum. Anyanwu urged PDP members nationwide not to be discouraged by the party’s current challenges, assuring them that all issues will be resolved soon.
“We have to bring the party together. Everyone must forget about their interests; we must ensure that the PDP is peaceful, united, and progressing before talking about individual interests,” Anyanwu said.
The APC, on the other hand, has welcomed the defectors, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje set to lead other party officials in welcoming Oborevwori and Okowa into the party.
The Presidency has denied accusations of a one-party state, insisting that democracy is not under threat or undermined “simply because politicians exercise their rights of association.” President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Nigerians migrating to the APC are doing so out of their free will, based on the belief that the reforms being executed are in the interest of Nigerians.
“Nigerians are not being coerced into joining the APC. They are doing so because they believe in the reforms and the direction of the country,” Onanuga said.
The PDP’s crisis deepens as the party struggles to retain its members and regain its footing in the political landscape. The outcome of the NWC meeting will be crucial in determining the party’s future and its ability to bounce back from the current crisis.
In a related development, there are speculations that Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno may defect to the APC, following his recent declaration of support for President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. However, sources close to the governor’s predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, suggest that Eno’s quest to exit the PDP may not receive the backing of Emmanuel, who remains loyal to the party.
The PDP’s internal crisis and defections have raised concerns about the party’s ability to compete effectively in future elections. As the party grapples with its internal problems, the APC continues to gain momentum, welcoming defectors from various parties and solidifying its position in the political landscape.