The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once the largest political party in Africa and Nigeria’s ruling party for 16 unbroken years, is today fighting for its survival. The greatest irony is that the threat to its existence is not only external but internal — embodied in one man: Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under an All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
For many within and outside the party, Wike is no longer just a rebellious member; he has become the weapon fashioned against PDP, whether by design or circumstance.
How Wike Became the “PDP Problem”
From his days as Rivers State governor, Wike wielded enormous influence in PDP, often bankrolling the party and dictating terms. His role in the 2023 election cycle was decisive: he led the G-5 governors who openly worked against PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the North could not retain the presidency after eight years of Muhammadu Buhari.
Yet, despite undermining his own party, Wike faced no real consequences. Instead, he emerged politically stronger — rewarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a ministerial appointment in the APC government. To this day, Wike remains a registered PDP member, even while serving APC interests at the highest level.
Tinubu’s Trojan Horse
Analysts widely agree that Tinubu has cleverly turned Wike into a political Trojan horse. By empowering him, APC has effectively planted a disruptive force within PDP. Wike’s presence ensures that the opposition spends more time battling internal divisions than confronting APC’s policies.
This strategy mirrors the 2013 political chessboard that birthed APC itself. Then, opposition parties merged to form a formidable front against PDP. Today, the script is flipped: APC is working to fragment PDP from within, using Wike as the wedge.
Why PDP Cannot Act
Despite the glaring evidence of anti-party activities, PDP has failed to sanction Wike. The reasons are telling:
- His deep pockets make him almost untouchable; he bankrolls factions and silences dissent.
- The party’s leadership paralysis means no one wants to risk an implosion by confronting him.
- Fear of mass defections in Rivers and beyond keeps PDP leaders tiptoeing around him.
But this cowardice has consequences. A party that cannot discipline its own members loses credibility in the eyes of the public. Nigerians now see PDP as weak, toothless, and unable to enforce its own rules. As many observers argue, this is the bane that may break PDP’s back.
The Risk of Losing Opposition Status
For decades, PDP has prided itself as Nigeria’s “largest opposition party.” But that position is slipping fast. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), with its youth-friendly posture and grassroots mobilization, is steadily carving space. Even the Labour Party, despite its internal issues, commands more energy among young Nigerians.
If PDP loses its opposition crown to ADC or LP, the consequences will be grave:
- Loss of visibility in national debates.
- Reduced credibility as an alternative to APC.
- Shrinking grassroots support and defections of loyalists.
That would be the beginning of PDP’s political extinction.
Wike’s Legal Trap
Even if PDP succeeds in organizing its much-taunted national convention in Lagos, Wike remains a looming threat. With his history of weaponizing the courts, he could easily secure injunctions to truncate any victory. Nigerians have not forgotten how he used the judiciary to consolidate power in Rivers during his governorship battles.
As long as Wike remains a card-carrying member, he is a legal landmine under PDP’s feet. Expulsion is the only way to free the party from endless sabotage. Anything short of that is political suicide.
The ADC Option
Some analysts argue that PDP must urgently rethink its survival strategy. Aligning with ADC could offer a way out, much like APC itself was born from a coalition of opposition parties in 2013. A PDP–ADC alliance could consolidate opposition strength, refresh PDP’s battered image, and present a united challenge to APC’s dominance.
After all, it is better for PDP to share relevance with ADC than to be swallowed whole by APC.
Conclusion
The question before Nigerians — and indeed PDP leaders themselves — is simple: Is Wike the weapon fashioned against PDP? The evidence strongly suggests so. His political maneuvers, financial influence, and legal tactics have crippled the party from within, while simultaneously serving APC’s grand strategy.
PDP faces a stark choice: summon the courage to expel Wike, realign with credible opposition forces like ADC, and rebuild its internal discipline — or continue on the path of cowardice, in-fighting, and slow extinction.
For a party that once boasted it would rule Nigeria for 60 years, the tragedy is that it may not even survive the next decade unless it acts now