The crisis over the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains front and centre despite the success of its national convention.
Internal disagreements and conflicting court decisions continue to create confusion over its leadership, and a party stakeholder, Anthony Ehilebo, has spoken out against it.
Speaking on Hard Facts with Mary-Ann Duke-Okon on Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Ehilebo, a PDP party member and lawyer, said the situation has become “a lot of distraction that we (PDP) don’t need right now,” especially as the party prepares for future elections.
At the center of the crisis are two major groups: one linked to Nyesom Wike and another aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
The confusion worsened after a Federal High Court reportedly nullified the party’s 2025 convention in Ibadan, while another court later upheld the same convention.
This has led to competing party leaderships and uncertainty over who is in charge.
Ehilebo said the actions of some party leaders have weakened the PDP, adding that one person now appears to have too much influence.
He claimed this has “alienated members of the party” and made it harder for the PDP to function as a strong opposition.
He also raised concerns about the role of Independent National Electoral Commission, questioning its neutrality after it recognised one faction despite ongoing legal disputes.
Despite the crisis, Ehilebo said the PDP is not finished.
“PDP builds several solid foundations,” he said, adding that the party can still rebuild if members remain committed.
However, he warned that the ongoing crisis is affecting the party’s ability to “perform optimally” and serve as a credible opposition in Nigeria’s democracy.
