Nigeria’s main opposition Peoples Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is experiencing its worst crisis. Since it was ousted from the central power in 2015 by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP has been suffering from one crises to the other. On November 15, 2025, the party conducted its national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, with Barrister Tanimu Turaki (SAN) emerging as the national chairman.
The national convention came amidst conflicting court rulings which put it on hold. The factional leadership which has the backing of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, filed a court case to stop the national convention. One had expected the Ahmadu Fintiri national convention committee to simply obey the court order and wait for the federal high court to determine the legality of holding the national convention or otherwise. But the committee which had the support of the PDP governors went ahead to hold the national convention despite the court order.
Immediately after he emerged as the national chairman, Turaki wielded the big stick against some stakeholders whom he felt are cogs in the wheel of the progress of the party. In his acceptance speech,Turaki announced the expulsion of Wike, Ayo Fayose, Sam Anyanwu, and other members from the party. The new national chairman accused them of anti-party and other offences that are detrimental to the ideals of the PDP.
Turaki’s action stirred the hornet’s nest and attracted backlash resulting in a confrontation on Tuesday. When the newly elected party officials were set to be inaugurated at Wadata Plaza in Abuja, the national headquarters of the PDP, they met stiff opposition from the Wike camp. It was chaotic and a free for all. It took the intervention of the police to douse tension.
In a press briefing, both Turaki and Governor Bala Mohammed, chairman of PDP Governors Forum, accused Wike of invading the venue of the inauguration with armed thugs to cause mayhem. On his part, Turaki appealed to the US President Donald Trump and the international community to intervene and save Nigeria’s democracy. While the aftermath of the national convention’s fracas was unfortunate, many Nigerians saw it coming.
The PDP has never been prepared to assume the role of an opposition as it is yet to recover from the shock of its 2015 defeat. Besides, some of its founding members or beneficiaries have since dumped the party for the ruling APC. Some high profile members who should intervene and save the party from recurring crisis have maintained a deafening silence or distanced themselves from it.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who spent eight years as the leader of the party, on the eve of the 2015 general elections, resigned and tore his membership card. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who suffered defeat in 2015, has continued to show lack of interest in the activities of his former party. Despite its self-inflicted crises arising from refusal to abide by its zoning arrangement in 2015 and 2023, respectively, PDP remains a force with national appeal. Its performance in the 2023 general elections, winning several states and National Assembly seat attest to this assertion.
However, in the last one year, the fortunes of the party have continued to nosedive calamitiously. The crises-infested party has lost many governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and other key stakeholders to the ruling APC. No thanks to its leadership crises and the APC’s desperate move to impose a one party state on Nigeria.
The collapse of the PDP and other opposition parties will not augur well for the growth and development of our nascent democracy. The intractable crises rocking the Labour Party (LP), New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), and the PDP are believed to be the handiwork of the ruling party.
Democracy in multi-ethnic country like Nigeria can only thrive if there are effective opposition parties. Opposition parties help to keep the ruling party on its toes. They criticise obnoxious government’s policies and programmes. They also serve as an alternative to the ruling party if it performs below expectations.
With the sealing of the PDP national secretariat by the FCT police command and the multiple legal battles ahead, it is a troubling period for the party. Is there any option left for PDP to navigate the storm, emerge stronger, play its opposition role and form government at the centre in 2027? The answer is in the affirmative.
The crises in PDP are not likely to be resolved anytime soon. It will linger, reach 2027 general elections and even beyond. The Wike faction will never bow to pressure and allow peace to reign. With his support and campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, Wike has already taken a definite stand. For Tanimu Turaki and his co-travelers, there is the need to explore other options, including joining the coalition to effectively play the role of opposition.
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