PDP NWC scrambles to salvage party from defections, disarray

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing one of the gravest crises in its history as its National Working Committee (NWC) meets this week.

With defections gutting its ranks, leadership battles stalling its revival plans, and coalition talks splitting its leaders, the once-dominant party now stands at a dangerous crossroads ahead of the 2027 elections.

An NWC member affirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the leadership faces a decisive moment this week as it convenes for the first time since a wave of defections rattled the party’s already fragile unity. 

Against a backdrop of deepening internal tensions and strategic uncertainty ahead of 2027, the meeting is poised to address some of the most existential threats facing Nigeria’s main opposition party.

One of the major issues before the NWC is setting the stage for a critical National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. 

Governors elected on the PDP platform have expressed their opposition to regarding coalition talks and submitted recommendations on proposed dates for the long-delayed National Executive Committee (NEC) and national convention. 

They also recommended that the NEC meeting be held on May 27, 2025, with the party’s elective convention tentatively scheduled for August 28–30 in Kano. 

However, consensus remains elusive. The NWC is expected to deliberate on whether to endorse the governors’ cautious approach or heed calls for a broader coalition that could help consolidate opposition forces against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP’s internal troubles have been worsened by a string of high-profile defections, most notably Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s recent exit. 

His departure, following others in key states, has sent shockwaves through the party’s rank and file, raising urgent questions about the PDP’s capacity to retain its strongholds. While party loyalists publicly downplay the defections as isolated cases, there is growing unease that the APC’s aggressive courtship of disaffected PDP leaders could further weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

At the heart of the PDP’s dilemma is a sharp divide over coalition strategy. While former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is pushing for an expansive coalition to strengthen opposition efforts against the APC, many PDP governors remain skeptical. 

Sources suggest that the governors fear losing control of party structures in their respective states and believe a coalition could dilute the PDP’s identity. 

The NWC must navigate these competing visions carefully, as a misstep could deepen existing fractures.

Compounding these problems is an unresolved leadership crisis within the PDP, particularly regarding the position of National Secretary. 

Bitter disputes over the rightful occupant of the office have paralyzed key party organs and eroded internal trust. 

Party insiders warn that unless the NWC moves swiftly to resolve these leadership tussles, the PDP risks alienating its base and diminishing its credibility as a viable alternative to the APC.

The broader question looming over the NWC meeting is whether the PDP can reposition itself as a credible, united opposition force. 

With Nigeria’s political landscape rapidly evolving, the PDP must urgently reform, reconcile internal differences, and reassert its relevance. 

Failure to do so could consign the once-dominant party to permanent opposition status.

As the NWC members gather, the stakes could not be higher. 

Their choices this week may well determine whether the PDP rises from its current turmoil or continues its drift toward political irrelevance.

Confirming the meeting, PDP national publicity secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, had earlier told the Nigerian Tribune that the NWC would discuss not only the governors’ suggestions but also other “critical issues germane to the party’s preparations for 2027.”

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