Key facts
- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once Nigeria's dominant political force, is facing an existential crisis.
- Internal factional struggles and a leadership dispute have led to legal challenges and defections.
- The party has lost control of all its state governorships.
- A key faction led by Nyesom Wike has been legally recognized, potentially excluding the main PDP slate from elections.
- Analysts suggest the PDP may need to form alliances to survive.
Once the undisputed giant of Nigerian politics, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now finds itself on the brink of extinction, with its survival in question ahead of the general election. Founded in 1998, the PDP held the presidency for 16 years following the end of military rule, controlling the majority of the country's 36 states. However, its decline began after losing the 2015 federal election to Muhammadu Buhari and the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC).
Political analyst Ishaq Buhari noted that the party struggled with opposition after being accustomed to power. The situation worsened in 2025 with a wave of defections and internal conflicts. Five state governors switched allegiance to the APC, citing the PDP's declining viability. The party's state governor count has since fallen to zero.
Internal power struggles, factionalism, and disciplinary measures have fueled disillusionment. The crisis was exacerbated by a leadership tussle, culminating in a contentious national convention in November 2025 where Nyesom Wike, a prominent PDP member now aligned with President Bola Tinubu's APC government, was expelled. Wike heads a rival faction that has been legally recognized by the courts, allowing it to submit candidate lists for the upcoming elections, potentially leaving the main PDP faction without ballot representation.
Despite the chaos, some loyalists like Aminu Adamu remain optimistic about a potential comeback, citing examples from other countries. Others point to the party's grassroots network as a potential asset. However, analyst Deji Olarenwaju believes the PDP may need an alliance with groups like the African Democratic Congress or Peter Obi's Nigeria Democratic Congress to remain relevant, stating that "on their own they are going nowhere."