PDP Faces Imminent Collapse as Internal Crisis Deepens
A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party's Board of Trustees has issued a stark warning about the party's future, revealing that the PDP could face technical collapse by December 7, 2025 if the current leadership crisis remains unresolved.
Honourable Tajudeen Yusuf, who served in the House of Representatives for twelve years, delivered a comprehensive assessment of the party's deepening troubles during an extensive interview in Abuja. He identified selfish governors and party leaders blinded by ego as the primary architects of the potential downfall.
The December 7 Deadline and Constitutional Crisis
Yusuf emphasized that December 7 marks a critical juncture for Nigeria's main opposition party, as this date signifies the expiration of the current National Working Committee's tenure. "If this crisis is unresolved by December 7, technically, there will be no PDP," he stated unequivocally.
The former lawmaker painted a disturbing picture of a political organization trapped in what he described as "a vicious cycle of ego battles, legal landmines, internal sabotage and constitutional violations." This dangerous combination threatens the very survival of the PDP ahead of the crucial 2027 general elections.
Yusuf specifically dismissed the recent Ibadan gathering as "a social event with no legal standing," insisting it failed to meet any constitutional or procedural requirements for a legitimate party convention. He highlighted the absence of proper zoning, congresses, INEC presence, and adequate notice as evidence of its illegitimacy.
Root Causes: Power Struggles and Constitutional Violations
According to Yusuf's detailed analysis, the turmoil rocking the opposition party stems from multiple sources:
- Intense power struggles among party elites
- Unlawful congresses conducted in several states
- Deliberate disregard for the party's constitution
- Attempts by some governors to hijack party structure for personal advantage in the 2027 polls
He revealed that several PDP congresses in Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra and parts of the South-South were conducted in direct violation of court rulings. The National Working Committee stands accused of selectively recognizing factions favored by a small power bloc while ignoring judicial decisions that nullified their actions.
Yusuf expressed particular disappointment in the roles played by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, describing them as leaders who allowed personal ambition to supersede party cohesion. "These governors have disappointed us. They allowed ego, misinformation and ambition to blind them to political reality," he lamented.
The Path Forward: Compliance and Neutral Leadership
The BoT member outlined what he believes is the only viable solution to prevent total collapse. He insisted that the party must achieve:
- Full compliance with all court orders
- Proper congresses across affected states
- Creation of a neutral transitional leadership acceptable to all factions
Yusuf revealed that party elders, including Senators Bukola Saraki and Abba Moro, had pleaded with the pro-Ibadan group to suspend their planned convention and adopt a caretaker committee model similar to the 2016 Port Harcourt arrangement that produced the Ahmed Makarfi-led committee.
Regarding the recent violence at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, Yusuf described the incident as the clearest indicator yet of an attempt by a faction to hijack the party through intimidation rather than proper procedure.
The BoT member also dismissed the purported expulsion of former governor Nyesom Wike and others as having "no legal effect," arguing that no proper disciplinary procedure was followed as required by the PDP constitution.
Despite the grave situation, Yusuf ruled out leaving the party, stating firmly: "I worked for PDP in 2023. I am still here. If I want to leave, I will walk out openly. But I won't allow anyone to blackmail me for insisting on what is right."
