PDP on Brink of Collapse Amid Factional Convention

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sharply criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after its recent national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. APC officials described the gathering as evidence of the PDP’s declining national influence and internal disarray.

Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, said the convention was meant to revitalize the opposition but instead exposed deep internal conflicts and a loss of relevance. He pointed out that many prominent PDP figures, including incumbent governors, boycotted the event, a move he said “spoke volumes” about the party’s current state. Delegates from at least 13 states also opted out, further undermining the convention’s legitimacy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declined to monitor the convention, which Oladejo argued underscored its illegitimacy. He called the event “a dignified farewell to a political structure that has outlived its usefulness,” citing the PDP’s failure to address leadership issues, ideological emptiness, and repeated electoral defeats.

According to the APC spokesperson, the PDP now poses a danger to Nigeria’s democracy because it cannot provide a vibrant, constructive opposition. While the APC consolidates reforms and delivers governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the PDP appears preoccupied with its own relevance, Oladejo observed. He challenged the opposition to reflect on whether the gathering was a genuine convention or merely a formal burial of a fading political empire.

The APC’s criticism comes as the party continues to strengthen its institutions and governance, whereas the PDP struggles to regain its footing. These developments have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape, highlighting the ongoing power dynamics between the two major parties: the ruling APC seeking to consolidate its position and the opposition grappling to remain relevant. How the PDP will respond to the APC’s remarks and rebuild its national influence remains to be seen.