The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faced a tumultuous 2025, marked by significant internal conflicts, defections, and leadership challenges that threatened to destabilize the party. Understanding the dynamics of these ups and downs is crucial for comprehending the party’s current standing and future trajectory. This period saw intense disputes within the party hierarchy and among its members across different levels.
The most prominent issue plaguing the PDP was an ongoing leadership crisis. Factions loyal to prominent figures like Nyesom Wike and Seyi Makinde were locked in bitter disputes, leading to protracted court battles, suspensions, and counter-suspensions. These internal wrangles significantly weakened the party’s operational capacity and public perception.
What is the root cause of the PDP’s internal conflicts? The primary drivers appear to be power struggles and ideological differences among key stakeholders, leading to factionalism and a lack of unified leadership. These disputes often manifest in legal challenges and public disagreements.
Further compounding the party’s woes, a substantial number of PDP governors defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This exodus of eight governors, including prominent figures from states like Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, considerably diminished the PDP’s political strength and electoral potential.
The PDP’s internal schisms led to the formation of rival factions. Some members aligned with Nyesom Wike, while others supported Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed. This polarization created a fragmented party structure, making cohesive decision-making and unified action exceedingly difficult.
The rivalry between key National Working Committee (NWC) members, including the former helmsman Ambassador Umar Damagum and National Chairman Senator Samuel Anyanwu, escalated the crisis. Many other NWC members also began aligning with their preferred political actors, further deepening the divisions within the party’s leadership.
A significant development was the emergence of a factional acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, who found himself in a dispute with Senator Tanimu Turaki, SAN. Turaki’s election at a convention in Ibadan, which was reportedly held against a court ruling, further fueled claims of disputed leadership and intensified the ongoing chaos within the party.
How does the PDP navigate court interventions in its leadership disputes? The party must adhere strictly to court rulings and legal frameworks when addressing internal conflicts. Ignoring or defying court orders can lead to further complications and delegitimization of its processes.
In addition to internal strife, external events also impacted the PDP. The alleged assault on former AIT Managing Director Pedro Obaseki led to accusations against the APC, highlighting the contentious political climate within which the PDP was operating.
Despite the internal turmoil, statutory organs and leadership bodies of the PDP expressed support for the newly elected National Working Committee led by Barrister Turaki. This included endorsements from state chairmen, caucuses in the Senate and House of Representatives, and various forums of former party officials, signaling an attempt to consolidate support for a particular faction.
Factionalism within the PDP intensified with the issuance of expulsion certificates to key figures, including Nyesom Wike, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and former governor Ayodele Fayose. These expulsions, stemming from a convention in Ibadan, were justified by the National Chairman, citing legal provisions regarding dual party membership.
The PDP also engaged with the judiciary by writing to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court regarding the assignment of cases involving the party. Concerns were raised about the consistent assignment of party-related matters to specific judges, suggesting a potential for bias or uneven judicial scrutiny.
Expulsions and appointments continued as part of the internal power plays. Hon. Francis Orogu was appointed Acting National Vice Chairman (North Central) following the expulsion of Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed. These moves reflected ongoing efforts to reshape the party’s leadership structure.
A group of lawyers, under the banner of Lawyers for New Nigeria, demanded the immediate withdrawal of police from the PDP secretariat, deeming the deployment illegal and an attempt to enforce a partisan takeover. This incident underscored the level of external interference and internal power plays affecting the party’s operations.
In a broader policy suggestion, the PDP called on the federal government to fund and implement a National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools. This highlights the party’s engagement with national issues beyond its internal struggles, particularly concerning insecurity in educational institutions.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu and others questioned their purported expulsion, arguing that the Ibadan convention was invalid as INEC was not present. This highlights the ongoing disputes over the legitimacy of party decisions and the processes by which they are made.
In a decisive move, one faction of the PDP ratified the expulsion of governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, along with other prominent members, and dissolved state executive councils in several states. This was a direct counteraction to earlier expulsions of figures like Wike.
Warring factions of the PDP renewed hostilities over a potential secretariat takeover. Supporters of the Anyanwu/Abdulrahman Mohammed faction clashed with those of the Tanimu Turaki faction, requiring police intervention to allow some leaders access to the party headquarters.
The PDP defied aggrieved members and court orders to hold its National Convention in Ibadan. This defiance involved overcoming legal injunctions that aimed to stop the convention, indicating a willingness to proceed with party decisions despite judicial challenges.
What is the significance of the PDP’s defiance of court orders? Defying court orders can have severe legal and political repercussions, potentially undermining the rule of law and the party’s credibility. It signals a willingness to prioritize internal political objectives over legal compliance.
The PDP’s internal struggles in 2025 were characterized by factionalism, leadership disputes, defections, and legal battles, creating a complex and challenging environment for the party. These issues continue to shape its political landscape.
