The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is perilously approaching what many now dread could result in a historic political collapse. This time, the alert is not being raised by an outsider, a competing party, or an analyst seeking attention. Instead, it originates from within loudly, sharply, and without filters.
Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, a long-time member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and one of the party’s most seasoned voices, has asserted that if the ongoing internal strife is not addressed before December 7, 2025, “technically, there will be no PDP.”
This is not simply rhetoric. It serves as a chilling prediction of a party consuming itself from within.
In a revealing interview in Abuja, Yusuf accused a group of governors and party leaders of engaging in self-serving politicking so reckless that it jeopardizes the PDP’s existence before the 2027 elections. He cautioned that a toxic combination of impunity, unlawful congresses, factional conflicts, and breaches of constitutional norms has brought the party to the brink of a political abyss.
“PDP is larger than any governor,” he proclaimed. “If we do not adhere to the rules, this party will crumble under the burden of our irresponsibility.”
A Party Hijacked by Ambition
Yusuf’s disclosures illustrate a bleak scenario of a party fragmented by personal ambition and administrative sabotage. He contends that the PDP’s difficulties arise from a deliberate struggle to gain control of the national secretariat, with conflicting factions manipulating congresses, influencing administrative divisions, and ignoring court rulings in a desperate effort to impose their desired narrative.
At the heart of this turmoil is what he characterized as an effort by Governor Seyi Makinde and others to undermine the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, for political advantage. He stated that the plots for removal lacked constitutional justification but were orchestrated to skew internal structures in anticipation of 2027.
Yusuf also characterized the contentious Ibadan Convention as merely a “social gathering without any legal authority,” asserting that INEC had not been adequately informed, zoning protocols were disregarded, and numerous zonal congresses were either invalid or incomplete.
“How can a convention be held when congresses have not been conducted in certain areas of the South-East and South-South?” he inquired. “Court orders were simply disregarded.”
Violence, Suspensions, and the Struggle for Dominance
The violent confrontation at the PDP’s national headquarters last Tuesday, according to Yusuf, was the most evident indication that certain factions preferred to resort to violence instead of engaging in dialogue to seize control of the party. He maintained that the alleged expulsion of former Governor Nyesom Wike and others was void, as no disciplinary procedures were adhered to.
“Is it now an offense to seek legal recourse? When did suspending individuals for pursuing legal action become acceptable? Their so-called suspension is ineffective from the outset.”
A Narrow Path to Redemption
In spite of the chaos, Yusuf remains committed to the PDP. He is advocating for a return to proper procedures conducting legitimate congresses, respecting court orders, and establishing a neutral caretaker leadership to restore stability within the party.
“If I choose to leave, I will do so openly,” he stated. “However, I will not permit anyone to coerce me into silence for standing up for what is just.”
As December 7 approaches, the PDP is confronted with a crucial challenge: to restore its structure or to succumb to the burden of its own inconsistencies.
