Nigerian businessman and political commentator Isaac Fayose has raised severe doubts about the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), predicting that the party will not feature on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
Fayose made the assertion during an appearance on News Central Television while evaluating the political climate ahead of the elections and pointing out alleged attempts to weaken opposition structures.
“This is the first time since 1999 that PDP will not be on the ballot,” he claimed.
He further criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing it as the worst in the nation’s history and claiming that approximately 67 percent of Nigerians are facing extreme hardship.
According to him, “this is the worst government in the history of our country. You don’t even need to ask me, go to the street and ask.
“Over 67 percent of Nigerians have been crying since this government came”.
However, his assertion contradicts the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of presidential candidates published on September 12, 2026, which officializes Sandy Ojang Onor as the PDP’s candidate.
Furthermore, Fayose accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to suppress opposition activities, asserting that the administration is uneasy with political rivalry.
The businessman also noted that opposition politicians have faced hurdles when attempting to mobilize supporters in certain states.
“Peter Obi was in Benue, they refused to let him enter the city, the other day, we were in Akwa Ibom and we were not allowed to campaign,” he argued.
He added that while his party allegedly sought to obstruct opposition movements, Tinubu was simultaneously bypassing direct, face-to-face engagements with voters.
PDP, NDC threaten legal action if INEC fails to enlist candidates Friday
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have threatened to initiate legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if their excluded candidates are not restored to the official candidate list for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in exclusive interviews with The PUNCH, PDP National Publicity Secretary Mohammed Jungudo and NDC National Publicity Secretary Osa Director stated that their respective parties will consider going to court if the issue is not resolved by October 24.
This development follows INEC’s October 10 publication of the final candidate list for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections—issued in the wake of a Supreme Court judgment on party membership and registration records—which omitted several candidates.
The lists, endorsed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contained 13 approved candidates.
Among the notable figures omitted were Professor Isa Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the PDP’s governorship candidate for Gombe State, alongside Oladipupo Adebutu, the party’s standard-bearer for Ogun State.
Other affected contenders included Aminu Gwarzo, the New Democratic Congress governorship flagbearer in Kano State; former senator Danjuma Tella La’ah in Kaduna State; and Professor Sebastine Hon (SAN), representing the Social Democratic Party in Benue State.
Read Also: Court nullifies Pantami’s ticket, orders fresh PDP primary in Gombe
Backstory…
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened ahead of the 2027 general elections, with disputes over party leadership, court rulings and candidate nominations raising concerns about its electoral participation.
The divisions predate the current controversy and intensified after the party’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan, which produced a leadership faction led by Kabiru Turaki.
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