Politics
2027: PDP Crisis Deepens As Top Politicians Battle For Chairmanship Seat
As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is once again embroiled in internal wrangling as a fresh power tussle over the party’s national chairmanship threatens to plunge the opposition into deeper crisis.
Several top-ranking politicians, including former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, ex-Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, former PDP National Chairman, Kawu Baraje, and the current acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, are reportedly positioning themselves for the top job, as the party’s national convention draws near.
The elective convention, scheduled to hold on November 15 in Ibadan, is expected to produce a new National Working Committee (NWC) that will steer the party ahead of the crucial 2027 polls.
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However, the intense competition and lingering regional disputes are fueling internal discontent within the party’s ranks.
Insiders reveal that party stakeholders are quietly pushing for a consensus candidate to avoid a repeat of the 2023 election implosion that saw the PDP go into the polls divided.
While consensus may help maintain party unity, critics argue it could shut out credible aspirants and provoke further disaffection.
“The idea is to reduce friction. But the process must be inclusive and transparent,” a party source disclosed.
However, not everyone supports this approach. Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader, warned against silencing voices under the guise of consensus.
“Let every qualified member contest. That is what internal democracy demands,” he said.
Meanwhile, other leaders, such as former Deputy National Publicity Secretary Diran Odeyemi, believe consensus, if managed well, could help the party avoid unnecessary legal battles and maintain stability.
Wike Raises Red Flag Over Zonal Crisis
Amidst the leadership contest, former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning over the PDP’s failure to recognize zonal leadership outcomes in the South-South and South-East regions.
Wike, speaking during a recent media chat, faulted the party’s silence on the Calabar congress, which produced Chief Dan Orbih as Zonal Chairman, and called for immediate recognition of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary based on court rulings.
“If they want a fresh crisis, let them ignore what happened in Calabar. I will not be part of any convention where the right things are not done,” Wike warned.
He also criticized the party’s handling of the South-East issue, where a court nullified the leadership of Ali Odefa, urging the PDP to respect judicial decisions.
However, attempts to get official reactions from top contenders were unsuccessful. Umar Damagum’s phone remained switched off, while Baraje, Gana, and Makarfi were either unavailable or declined to comment.
Nevertheless, political analysts believe behind-the-scenes lobbying and negotiations are already in motion as each camp tries to secure regional support and influence key delegates.
The PDP, through its National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, has released the convention timetable.
Sales of nomination and expression of interest forms will begin on September 3, with September 22 as the deadline for submission. Screening of aspirants is scheduled for September 30.
The convention will elect 19 NWC members, including National Chairman, National Secretary, Deputy Chairmen (North and South), National Publicity Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Organising Secretary, Legal Adviser, Auditor, Youth Leader, and Women Leader.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has mocked the PDP’s internal troubles, with its Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim describing the party as “beyond repair.”
“The PDP is in intensive care. They are still battling leadership issues two years after the election. I doubt this convention will bring any real change,” he said.
As the PDP prepares for its make-or-break convention, questions linger over whether the party can navigate its internal crisis and produce credible leadership capable of mounting a strong challenge in 2027.
With growing calls for unity, respect for internal democracy, and recognition of zonal outcomes, the road ahead remains bumpy but not impossible to fix.
A former senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Abubakar Umar Gada, has assured members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the party remains strong and united in Sokoto State despite recent defections by some political figures.
Gada gave the assurance in a statement issued on Thursday in Sokoto, where he urged party loyalists to remain calm, focused and committed to the ideals of the PDP.
According to him, political defections are not unusual in Nigeria’s democratic landscape and should not be seen as a threat to the stability and strength of the party in the state.
SEE MORE: PDP’s Festering Crisis Chases Tambuwal to ADC
The former lawmaker stressed that the PDP still enjoys a strong grassroots presence in Sokoto, noting that the party’s structure across the state remains intact and capable of delivering electoral victories.
He explained that the strength of the PDP lies in the loyalty and dedication of its members, leaders and supporters who have remained committed to the party through various political challenges.
Gada also pointed out that politics allows individuals the freedom to make personal decisions, but maintained that the PDP as an institution remains resilient and firmly rooted in the aspirations of the people of Sokoto State and Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the party’s national leadership has already initiated measures aimed at strengthening internal unity and consolidating party structures across the country.
According to him, consultations and reconciliation efforts are currently ongoing among key stakeholders to address emerging concerns and reinforce unity within the party.
Gada noted that such engagements are designed to ensure the PDP moves forward with renewed focus, stronger unity and a clear commitment to democratic values.
He recalled that the party has successfully navigated several political challenges in the past and has consistently emerged stronger.
The former senator therefore urged PDP members in Sokoto State to remain steadfast and avoid actions capable of creating divisions within the party.
He also called on supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation and strengthen party structures across all levels as the party prepares for future political contests.
The lingering intra-party crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has forced senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal to dump the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State, disclosed this in a resignation letter dated March 11, 2026, addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Tambuwal/Shinfiri Ward of Tambuwal Local Government Area.
The letter, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, said the decision followed consultations with his political associates and supporters.
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“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my political associates and supporters, I have decided to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect,” Tambuwal stated.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, lingering disputes and leadership disagreements in the PDP made it increasingly difficult for him to remain in the party.
“The persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements and growing divisions within the party have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my membership,” he added.
Despite leaving the party, the senator expressed appreciation to the PDP for the opportunities it gave him to serve in different capacities.
“I remain grateful to the party for the platform it provided me to serve Nigeria as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later as Governor of Sokoto State,” he said.
Tambuwal confirmed that he had joined the ADC alongside his political associates and supporters, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen democratic values and provide a credible political alternative.
“My decision is guided by the conviction that Nigeria requires a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and a clear commitment to national development,” he added.
Tambuwal served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 before emerging governor of Sokoto State in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later defected to the PDP the same year and was re-elected governor in 2019.
After completing his second term in 2023, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent Sokoto South.
His defection to the ADC is expected to alter the political dynamics in Sokoto State, where he remains one of the state’s most influential political figures.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has explained that the persistent crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party compelled him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by his deputy, Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move was described as a necessary step taken in the interest of the state and supported by political stakeholders across Zamfara.
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According to the statement, Governor Lawal had remained committed to the PDP despite the ongoing leadership crisis and had made several efforts to reconcile factions within the party.
However, attempts to achieve peace and unity reportedly failed, leading to prolonged legal battles.
The development followed a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The earlier judgment had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The governor was said to have informed political stakeholders during a series of meetings that he would make a final decision about his political future after the appellate court delivered its ruling.
Following the judgment, Lawal concluded that joining the APC would better position him to continue what he described as the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”
His defection marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Zamfara State and could influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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