Political affairs analyst Majeed Dahiru has raised alarms over what he describes as a “deep crisis” within the Peoples Democratic Party, linking the turmoil to the party’s failure to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the South, particularly the South-East. Dahiru characterised this decision as a “mortal sin,” a misstep he says has triggered mass defections and weakened the party’s national cohesion.
The latest wave of defections follows Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State’s formal departure from the PDP to join the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Announcing his decision at a press conference in Enugu on Tuesday, Mbah said he was motivated by the desire to advance the state’s interests and the belief that the APC platform would provide greater opportunities for collaboration and transformative development.
Shortly after Mbah’s announcement, three PDP lawmakers from Kaduna State – Abdulkarim Ahmed (Kaduna South), Aliyu Mustapha (Ikara/Kubau), and Sadiq Ango-Abdullahi (Sabongari) – also defected to the APC.
Their resignations, citing the party’s lingering internal conflicts and a desire to align with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” were read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during plenary.
Speaking on ARISE News Night on Tuesday, Dahiru explained that Governor Mbah’s defection was symptomatic of deeper problems within the PDP.
“Before he spoke of aligning with the centre, he made a more profound point: the South-East, and Enugu State in particular, have been loyal and consistent support bases for the PDP since 1998. Yet, their voices were ignored, and the party took the region for granted. That is the real driver of these defections,” he said.
Dahiru argued that while some governors may be attracted to the ruling party for access to the presidency and national caucus, the fundamental cause of defections lies in the PDP’s disregard for zoning.
“In the lead-up to the 2022 presidential primaries, I repeatedly warned that ignoring zoning to the South would sink the party in the post-Buhari era. That warning has come true,” he noted.
He described the ongoing court battles and leadership disputes within the PDP as symptomatic of a deeper malaise caused by the party’s alienation of the South.
“The South-East has historically been the PDP’s oxygen. When 17 Southern governors met in Asaba demanding a power shift to the South, common sense dictated the party should have presented a candidate from the South-East, while the APC took the South-West,” Dahiru said.
The analyst also pointed to the PDP’s missed opportunity to unite the South and reclaim national relevance through former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
“Peter Obi was phenomenally popular and from the right region. He could have galvanised massive support. But the PDP lost that chance, and in doing so, they lost the South-East,” he lamented.
Dahiru highlighted the party’s declining influence, citing Anambra State, a former PDP stronghold, where no one picked up nomination forms for the governorship primaries.
He warned that internal fractures have worsened since the 2023 elections, with the departure of Obi and the continued presence of Nyesom Wike, who has openly supported the APC president, leaving the PDP weakened and in perpetual crisis.
On the broader trend of defections in Nigeria, Dahiru downplayed movements between the PDP and APC, noting the minimal ideological differences between the two parties. However, he expressed concern over defections from the Labour Party, which he said emerged through genuine grassroots mobilisation.
“If there is any party Nigerians should be worried about losing members from, it’s the Labour Party. Unlike the PDP or APC, Labour was built on people’s power. When elected officials leave, it’s a betrayal of that movement,” he said.
Dahiru concluded that Nigeria missed a critical opportunity to strengthen its democracy, as politicians who rose through grassroots movements have increasingly adopted the habits of the old political elite.
“The people sacrificed to build a new movement, but those who came through it are now acting like the establishment they were meant to replace,” he added.
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