The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), is facing an increasing number of defections in the Northeast, which development analysts say might erode the party’s long-standing clout in the area as the 2027 election countdown gets underway.
Recall that in recent times, the PDP has seen a widespread wave of defection ahead of 2027 election across different regions.
Prominent individuals were seen leaving the party in protest from Taraba to Adamawa, Yobe to Borno, and Gombe to Bauchi States, alleging internal conflicts, a lack of inclusivity, and dissatisfaction with the leadership according to reports.
The PDP’s established control in Taraba and other areas of the region is undoubtedly under danger due to this new trend, which experts have dubbed a “game of resignations.”
One of the most striking exits came recently from Professor Jerome Nyameh, a governorship aspirant in Taraba during the 2023 elections.
Nyameh, who bemoaned unsolved internal conflicts and a widening gap between party leadership and grassroots followers, announced his departure from the PDP with immediate effect in a letter to the chairman of Zing AII Ward.
“I have been a committed and devoted member since 1999, but I can no longer pretend that all is well. My supporters are increasingly disillusioned, and the leadership has failed to provide a credible direction,” Nyameh wrote.
His departure comes after that of a number of other party members, some of whom have charged that the PDP has a closed-door system that silences competent voices.
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Although the PDP is still in power under Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, it is also dealing with internal strife in adjacent Adamawa State.
Due to what they refer to as “a lack of recognition” and “continued sidelining of grassroots mobilisers,” a number of ward executives and youth leaders have either threatened to resign or have already started to affiliate with alternative political movements.
According to party insiders, tensions are high in Adamawa despite the fact that no top officials have openly left. A number of local power brokers are apparently having backroom discussions with opposition parties, including as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and new third-force groups.
Although there haven’t been any notable resignations in Gombe or Bauchi States yet, party observers claim that unhappiness is growing. Supporters of the PDP in Gombe, where the APC controls the state administration, are angry over what they see as the opposition’s ineffective leadership and lack of strategic direction.
In Bauchi, the PDP holds the governorship under Bala Mohammed, but internal crisis between the governor’s facton and the state working committee has been growing. Party leaders continue to downplay the disagreements, but insiders say defections are likely if reconciliation efforts fail.
Speaking with reporters, political analysts identified a number of root factors for the wave of resignations that swept the region.
Many party dissidents accuse state and local leaders of being dictatorial and contemptuous of internal democracy.
According to some people who told the Daily Post that they have decided to leave the PDP, complaints are frequently disregarded or handled inadequately, which causes resentment to build up.
Disgruntled PDP members in the Northeast are being courted by the APC, which is still enjoying its national domination. Meanwhile, many who are fed up with the status quo are looking to the Labour Party, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and other up-and-coming political organisations as alternatives.
Speaking anonymously, a top APC official in Taraba revealed that discussions were still going on with a number of PDP mainstays. “They are aware of the direction the momentum is taking. The game will change by 2027.
Meanwhile, at the national and zonal levels, the PDP leadership has mostly been defensive or silent. There is no crisis, according to some party leaders, who characterise the resignations as “normal political movements.” Others maintain that the party is already implementing reconciliation strategies, such as holding talks with members who have been wronged.
The PDP’s ability to weather the storm, reunite, and provide a compelling vision, or to continue losing members in what may be a gradual but persistent process, may be determined in the upcoming months in Taraba and the Northeast.
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