NewStats: 3,265,415 , 8,186,664 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 08:19 PM q2773

By Temidayo Akinsuyi

Let’s not mince words about it. The major obstacle militating against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from performing its role as Nigeria’s major opposition party is lack of discipline. Indiscipline has been the bane and progress of the PDP, a party that once bestrode Nigeria’s political landscape as a colossus from 1999 to 2015. The situation became worse when the party was trounced by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections. Since then, it has been wandering in the sea like a ship without a com. Presently, the party is confused, vulnerable and lacking guidance or a sense of direction.

When the PDP was in charge as the dominant party in Nigeria, a former national chairman of the party, the late Vincent Ogbulafor, boasted in 2008 that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years. While it kept boasting and taking Nigerians for granted, leaders of the opposition kept planning, and before you know it, APC was formed in 2013, and the rest is now history.

Let’s take three examples in recent times to show how lack of discipline is hindering the PDP’s progress. First is Nyesom Wike, a former Rivers State governor and now a serving minister in President Bola Tinubu’s APC government. Since becoming governor in 2015, Wike has been determining who becomes what in the PDP. During the 2017 national convention of the party, he first ed Jimi Agbaje for the position of national chairman of the party. The convention was then postponed to December 9th and 10th, 2017. This time around, Wike backed Uche Secondus, and he won.

In August 2021, Wike led a ‘Secondus must go’ campaign, which greatly polarised the party and brought it to its knees. He eventually had his way, and Secondus was booted out. Speaking in December 2024 at an end-of-year thanksgiving organised by PDP stakeholders in Ahoada East and Ahoada West at Ukpata community in Ekpeye Kingdom, Wike boasted that “I kicked out Secondus as PDP chairman when he wanted to make his cousin Tele Ikuru to be governor.”

Wike openly worked against the PDP in the last election during the presidential election. Many Nigerians, including this author, ed him because of Atiku Abubakar, who wanted power to return to the north again at the detriment of the southern part of the country after Muhammadu Buhari, from Katsina, had ruled for eight years. Despite achieving his aim and emerging as the most powerful minister in President Tinubu’s cabinet, Wike continues to dictate the affairs of the PDP. He even sealed the national headquarters of the party in Abuja over failure to pay ground rent charges. How do we know if the ruling APC has paid its own ground rent charges?

How do you explain a situation where a man that was just an ordinary local government chairman when the PDP became Nigeria’s ruling party in 1999 is now the one calling the shots, holding the party by the jugular? Just because some PDP governors refused to him in his fight against Siminalayi Fubara, his successor in Rivers, he even threatened to put fire in their states. What hubris!

The second example is that of the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum. Widely described as the PDP’s damager-in-chief, Damagum last week defended his ties with Wike. Damagum is occupying the office in breach of the party’s constitution, which clearly states that if the occupier of a position resigns or dies, another official of the party from the same zone should be elected. With the suspension of Iyorchia Ayu, the former national chairman from the north-central, stakeholders of the party believe the successor should also come from the north-central. However, Damagum, who is from the north-east, has continued to lay claim to the position just because he enjoys the of renegades like Wike.

Last year, over 60 PDP of the house of representatives called on Damagum to step aside, accusing him of being in bed with the ruling APC. A former national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, also granted a series of interviews, blaming Damagum for the crisis plaguing the party, insisting that if the PDP must be at peace and remain a strong opposition party, he must step aside and revert to his position as the deputy national chairman, North.

Ologbondiyan also argued that for genuine reconciliation to take place, a new national chairman from the north-central zone must emerge. He said, “There is no debating the fact that for the PDP to be able to achieve its purpose, the course of justice must be pursued and must be followed. Damagum has taken over the responsibilities of a substantive chairman that ought to have come from the North-Central. If he had reverted to his own office and allowed the North-Central to produce a substantive chairman, some of the major issues in the party would have been resolved. No matter how long he continues to stay, Damagum is staying there illegitimately. It’s an issue in the party.”

The last example is that of Samuel Anyanwu, the former national secretary of the party. Anyanwu left his position to contest the governorship ticket of the party for Imo state in the 2023 general elections but lost to Governor Hope Uzodimma. The south-east zone, which nominated him for the national secretary position, thereafter nominated Ude-Okoye as his replacement, arguing that he ought to have resigned since he became a governorship candidate of the party.

But Anyanwu, in a counter move, approached a state high court in Enugu and later the court of appeal, arguing that it was not explicit in the party’s constitution that he would resign after he became the candidate of the party but lost in both courts.

However, the Supreme Court, in a final judgement on the matter, said that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter and asked both candidates to fall back on the party’s constitution and other internal mechanisms to resolve its leadership crises.

Speaking while addressing of the PDP Press Corps in Abuja on Wednesday, Anyanwu said he was being persecuted because of his friendship with Nyesom Wike. He also accused Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu and Seyi Makinde of Oyo of being behind his ordeal.

How do you explain this? The acting national chairman of the major opposition party is an ally of Wike. The national secretary also itted that he is close to Wike, yet the same Wike is more or less a major stakeholder in the ruling APC. That was why Wike had dared the PDP on several occasions to suspend him, yet the likes of Damagum and Anyanwu and the entire national working committee of the party couldn’t dare.

That is why I received the news that former Senate President Bukola Saraki has been appointed as the chairman of the PDP’s National Reconciliation Committee. Genuine stakeholders of the PDP should go beyond that. If Saraki decides to contest, he should be elected as the party’s next national chairman. What the PDP currently lacks is discipline; I strongly believe that Saraki has the capacity to restore it. Saraki is a no-nonsense person who will not kowtow to anyone engaging in anti-party activity.

In 2015, when the ruling APC decided to make Ahmad Lawan the senate president, Saraki chose to dare. He emerged as senate president and did a great job in checkmating the excesses of the Muhammadu Buhari istration. Two Senate Presidents have succeeded Saraki, Ahmad Lawan and Godswill Akpabio. Those who accused Saraki of being a traitor then are now praising him while accusing his successors of being rubber stamps and appendages of the executive arm of government.

Recently, during the sexual allegations crisis between Akpabio and suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Saraki weighed in and called for a transparent and unbiased probe. His position did not go down well with Akpabio, who accused Saraki of plotting his downfall. Other past senate presidents will not speak because of the ‘padi-padi’ arrangement which is rife in the Nigerian system. The PDP needs the likes of Saraki to instil discipline in the party, not chairmen who go cap in hand to beg for funds and are therefore afraid to call party to order when they err.

The party needs men who can look President Bola Tinubu in the face and tell him that the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket is unacceptable in a country like Nigeria. The party needs a man who has seen it all as a two-term governor, chairman of Nigerian Governors and Senate President, not one that can be barked at by party and will cower in fear. That was what Chief Olabode George wanted to do in 2017 when he vied for the national chairmanship position but was frustrated by the likes of Wike, having realised that it will be difficult to order George, one of the founding fathers of the PDP around.

The Saraki reconciliation committee has started its job on the right footing. The committee should ignore Wike’s latest rantings that he is pulling out of agreements reached and will continue to fight for justice. What justice? You never wanted Atiku to emerge, and you succeeded. You also got rewarded with a lofty position by a party you claimed you were not a member of. What else do you want? Governor Makinde should also ignore him and rather the Saraki committee in restoring order in the PDP and reconciling the aggrieved .

The truth is, no sane person will enjoy the kind of privileges that Wike has in the ruling APC under President Bola Tinubu and will desire an opposition party to come to power.

If they wish, Nigerians are free to reelect the APC and President Tinubu for another term if they are convinced that they have done enough to merit it. However, in so doing, let it not be on a platter of gold because there is no strong opposition. The PDP must put its house in order and live up to its responsibility as the major opposition party in Nigeria. There is no better time to do so than now.

Akinsuyi, a former group politics editor of Daily Independent, writes from Abuja

https://www.thecable.ng/pdp-lacks-discipline-can-saraki-restore-it/

Saraki to restore discipline? The same saraki that participated in killing PDP in 2015

How can a serial betrayer discipline a party largely made u of betrayers .
The party will soon betray him sef or vice versa

A retired highly principled military officer can do the job

The answer is no, Saraki want to unite PDP for his personal or Atiku goals. He can no be trusted at all.

Except Wike decides that their will be peace ✌️ in PDP.

Pdp shouldn't be in rush to put the party together. Let them allow their to wand around, reasonable number of them would be denied the ticket.

Let them be preparing for 2031 Northern presidency. Southerners wouldn't mind the party as long as the North would be presenting credible candidate

Is he the owner or founder of the party?

Depriest2020:
Except Wike decides that their will be peace ✌️ in PDP.

bolaayenimo:
Is he the owner or founder of the party?

Then tell PDP to expell him if he's not the owner of PDP. PDP was sold to Wike to do as he pleases after the party lost 2015 election. Since then he has single handedly decides what happens in the party.

bolaayenimo:
Is he the owner or founder of the party?

Absolutely.

What are your reasons for saying that? The governors and other leaders chose Saraki, not Atiku

Moroccoguy:
The answer is no, Saraki want to unite PDP for his personal or Atiku goals. He can no be trusted at all.

Too many misinformation in the article.

1. Senator Samuel Anyanwu did not "leave" the position of National Secretary to run for governorship. He applied for leave, which was granted to him. His decision is consistent with the provisions of PDP Constitution.

2. Anyanwu's decision is not even different from that of Mala Buni, then APC National Secretary who took obtained leave to run for Governor of Yobe state in 2019, returned to his office after his victory and resigned on May 28, 2019, on the eve of his inauguration. A similar situation was that of Victor Giadom, the Deputy to Buni, who obtained leave when he was nominated Deputy Governorship candidate of APC in Rivers 2019, but returned to office after his unsuccessful run. What about Omoyele Sowore that ran as Presidential candidate of AAC in 2019 and 2023 while still holding his position as National Chairman? What about Sani Yabagi, who like Sowore, has been ADP National Chairman while running as Presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023?

What is so special about Anyanwu? Did he break the law?

3. Anyanwu did not approach Enugu High Court for redress, it was one Emmanuel Aniagwu, as proxy of Governor Peter Mbah that obtained the now nullified judgement from Enugu High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal, but overturned by the Supreme Court. Anyanwu only approached the Federal High Court Abuja where he won and his victory wasn't challenged.

4. The position of National Chairman of PDP was zoned to the NORTH not Northcentral. Moreover, PDP Constitution stipulates that when there is vacancy the Deputy National Chairman from the area of the outgone Chairman should take over in Acting capacity. The Northcentral has no claim to the position, and Umar Damagum is the rightful occupant.

5. Bukola Saraki is not interested in becoming the National Chairman, he wants to be the President of Nigeria.

Oshey PDP's unofficial spokesman . But the same South East caucus who nominated Anyanwu replaced him with Ude Okoye. Why is he desperate to be in position? PDP governors asked him to go, BOT asked him to go, NWC asked him to go, yet he refuses and continues fighting. Is he bigger than the party?

TonyeBarcanista:
Too many misinformation in the article.

1. Senator Samuel Anyanwu did not "leave" the position of National Secretary to run for governorship. He applied for leave, which was granted to him. His decision is consistent with the provisions of PDP Constitution.

2. Anyanwu's decision is not even different from that of Mala Buni, then APC National Secretary who took obtained leave to run for Governor of Yobe state in 2019, returned to his office after his victory and resigned on May 28, 2019, on the eve of his inauguration. A similar situation was that of Victor Giadom, the Deputy to Buni, who obtained leave when he was nominated Deputy Governorship candidate of APC in Rivers 2019, but returned to office after his unsuccessful run. What about Omoyele Sowore that ran as Presidential candidate of AAC in 2019 and 2023 while still holding his position as National Chairman? What about Sani Yabagi, who like Sowore, has been ADP National Chairman while running as Presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023?

What is so special about Anyanwu? Did he break the law?

3. Anyanwu did not approach Enugu High Court for redress, it was one Emmanuel Aniagwu, as proxy of Governor Peter Mbah that obtained the now nullified judgement from Enugu High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal, but overturned by the Supreme Court. Anyanwu only approached the Federal High Court Abuja where he won and his victory wasn't challenged.

4. The position of National Chairman of PDP was zoned to the NORTH not Northcentral. Moreover, PDP Constitution stipulates that when there is vacancy the Deputy National Chairman from the area of the outgone Chairman should take over in Acting capacity. The Northcentral has no claim to the position, and Umar Damagum is the rightful occupant.

5. Bukola Saraki is not interested in becoming the National Chairman, he wants to be the President of Nigeria.

They can't because the national chairman is benefiting from him

Depriest2020:

Then tell PDP to expell him if he's not the owner of PDP. PDP was sold to Wike to do as he pleases after the party lost 2015 election. Since then he has single handedly decides what happens in the party.

I agree with the writer. The position of national chairman was microzoned to North Central, not entire North

TonyeBarcanista:
Too many misinformation in the article.

1. Senator Samuel Anyanwu did not "leave" the position of National Secretary to run for governorship. He applied for leave, which was granted to him. His decision is consistent with the provisions of PDP Constitution.

2. Anyanwu's decision is not even different from that of Mala Buni, then APC National Secretary who took obtained leave to run for Governor of Yobe state in 2019, returned to his office after his victory and resigned on May 28, 2019, on the eve of his inauguration. A similar situation was that of Victor Giadom, the Deputy to Buni, who obtained leave when he was nominated Deputy Governorship candidate of APC in Rivers 2019, but returned to office after his unsuccessful run. What about Omoyele Sowore that ran as Presidential candidate of AAC in 2019 and 2023 while still holding his position as National Chairman? What about Sani Yabagi, who like Sowore, has been ADP National Chairman while running as Presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023?

What is so special about Anyanwu? Did he break the law?

3. Anyanwu did not approach Enugu High Court for redress, it was one Emmanuel Aniagwu, as proxy of Governor Peter Mbah that obtained the now nullified judgement from Enugu High Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal, but overturned by the Supreme Court. Anyanwu only approached the Federal High Court Abuja where he won and his victory wasn't challenged.

4. The position of National Chairman of PDP was zoned to the NORTH not Northcentral. Moreover, PDP Constitution stipulates that when there is vacancy the Deputy National Chairman from the area of the outgone Chairman should take over in Acting capacity. The Northcentral has no claim to the position, and Umar Damagum is the rightful occupant.

5. Bukola Saraki is not interested in becoming the National Chairman, he wants to be the President of Nigeria.

hisexcellency34:
Oshey PDP's unofficial spokesman . But the same South East caucus who nominated Anyanwu replaced him with Ude Okoye. Why is he desperate to be in position? PDP governors asked him to go, BOT asked him to go, NWC asked him to go, yet he refuses and continues fighting. Is he bigger than the party?

This is why we say people should always read the rules of the game.

Only the National Convention can hire or fire a National Officer. No other organ, not even the National Executive Committee has such power. The BOT is an advisory organ without any implementing authority. Zonal organs CANNOT fire or hire any National Officer. PDP Governors Forum is a peer group that isn't even recognized by the PDP Constitution. Their opinion is as effective as the sound of "P" in psychology.

bolaayenimo:
I agree with the writer. The position of national chairman was microzoned to North Central, not entire North

Micro zoned to Northcentral by which organ? One reason Anyanwu keep defeating his opponents is that he follows the law while other acts in nzogbu nzogbu manner.