During a recent interview on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily“, Tajudeen Yusuf, a former House of Representatives member and PDP chieftain, accused some governors in the party of deliberately worsening internal conflicts.
According to him, these governors aim to create excuses for defecting to other parties later.
Yusuf explained that the PDP’s troubles deepened after abandoning its zoning tradition before the 2023 presidential election.
He recalled how five governors, led by Atiku Abubakar, left a convention at Eagle Square in 2014, triggering a major crisis.
This incident, he noted, marked the start of the party’s prolonged instability.
Furthermore, Yusuf pointed out that in 2019, the PDP successfully restored balance by zoning its presidential ticket to the north, leading to Atiku’s candidacy.
However, by 2023, he argued the ticket should have returned to the south.
Instead, influential figures blocked zoning, disregarding warnings that this decision would backfire.
Additionally, Yusuf stressed that ethnicity and religion still heavily influence Nigerian politics.
While he hopes these factors will fade eventually, they remain dominant today.
He also observed that after the 2023 elections, PDP factions began reorganizing for future contests.
Moreover, he criticized PDP governors for holding frequent meetings without adequately funding the party.
He also highlighted how some aspirants manipulate the delegate system by securing bloc support from specific regions, easing their path to victory in primaries.
Yusuf described this as the PDP’s toughest period in opposition, condemning the avoidable dispute over the national secretary’s position.
He insisted any removal attempt must follow due process through a convention or legal channels.
Recently, the crisis escalated when Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defected to the APC.
Charles Aniagwu, the state’s information commissioner, justified the move as a step toward uniting stakeholders and building a better Delta.
As the PDP struggles to regain stability, Yusuf’s claims reveal the intricate power struggles shaping Nigeria’s political scene.
The party must address these divisions urgently to remain a strong opposition force. Without unity, its future electoral prospects remain uncertain.
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