By Muazu Elazeh

In April 2024, this column reflected on the imminent demise of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This week, one of the three remaining PDP governors, Dauda Lawal Dare of Zamfara, defected to APC shortly after the Court of Appeal verdict, which nullified the convention that produced the Turaki-led executive committee—a verdict the Wike faction has been celebrating. With Wike repeatedly stating that he will work for APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the polls, it is an understatement to say that the court verdict has finally sealed PDP’s fate. The scenario prompted me to repeat my column of April 25, 2024, a dismal dirge unrelieved by any improvement in the manner in which the party has fared even in the last two years. Happy reading to all, especially members of the long-dead PDP.The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the brink of implosion; its recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting sealed its fate. Despite being aware of the party’s numerous challenges, including the destructive influence of former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, NEC failed to take decisive action. This inaction has pushed the party closer to its ruin. It is dancing on its own grave, leaving the country on the verge of becoming a one-party state. As you read this, the party has been hit by a wave of defections.I like and hate the PDP in equal measure, which is why I struggle to decide whether to laugh or lament its current state, a decision that is clearly compounded by NEC’s error of judgment.PDP’s contributions to Nigeria’s development are indisputable. As a dominant political party in Nigeria since the return to democracy in 1999, the party made some significant contributions, including playing a crucial role in consolidating democracy, ensuring peaceful transitions of power, and promoting political stability. The party implemented various economic reforms, such as the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and the Vision 20:2020 program, aimed at promoting economic growth and development, while also investing in infrastructure, including road construction and power generation. As a party in government, the PDP established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit, otherwise known as the Due Process Unit; the Sovereign Wealth Fund and the Development Bank, among others.When the PDP assumed power in 1999, Nigeria’s economy by GDP size was $57.48 billion and the 51st largest in terms of global ranking by GDP size. In 2006, it rose to $222.79 billion and became the 33rd-largest economy. It was $568.50 billion, the 22nd largest economy in 2014 and $492.44bn, and the 24th largest in 2015. Of course, these contributions are not without controversy.However, by 2023, after 8 years of APC rule, the nation’s GDP size went down to $374.95 billion, making Nigeria the 42nd-largest economy. This year, Nigeria’s economy is estimated at $252.74 billion, ranking it 53rd globally. After so much battering by the APC government, Nigeria dropped to fourth place on the IMF’s list of Africa’s largest economies in 2024. In the last nine years, the APC has done tremendous damage to the Nigerian economy.Unfortunately, the PDP failed to provide effective opposition to the ruling APC. Its inability to address its internal issues and hold APC’s feet to the fire has led to its downfall. The last NEC meeting of the PDP, which was held exactly seven days ago, provided the party with its last chance to wield the big stick against some of its members who have constituted stumbling blocks to reinvent itself. Sadly, the party failed to take advantage of the opportunity. Arguably, Wike is PDP’s biggest nightmare. He openly campaigned against the party’s presidential candidate in the last election and dealt a fatal blow to whatever chances the party had at the polls. I was perplexed when the party couldn’t muster the courage to suspend him and some members of his G-5 group at its first NEC meeting after the 2023 polls.Like most Nigerians, especially those who are worried that the party was losing its ability to provide viable opposition to the inept APC, I thought the PDP NEC would punish members who indulge in anti-party activities, disband the National Working Committee, which is largely seen as Wike’s pliable tool, and install a new chair that will reposition the party. That never happened.In a statement devoid of incisive stance issued at the end of its meeting, the NEC lauded members’ “collective resilience, steadfastness and commitment towards the unity, stability and sustenance of the party.” It commended members for “resisting the antics of the divisive and anti-people All Progressives Congress (APC), especially its desperation to emasculate the opposition and foist a one-Party State on our nation.” Yet, it failed to suspend Wike and his co-conspirators, who are helping the APC to entrench a one-party state.Rather than address its challenges without delay, the PDP NEC merely shifted the leadership tussle to August, and in so doing, provided ample time for those bent on nailing the party’s coffin.It is true that Wike’s actions, particularly his open campaign against the PDP presidential candidate in the last election, have dealt a fatal blow to the party. Yet, the NEC failed to suspend him and other high-profile members engaged in anti-party activities. This inaction has emboldened Wike, encouraging him to continue damaging the party from within.PDP members can elect to live in self-denial, but it is now crystal clear to many that Wike is untouchable. If not, how come after what passed for a long meeting, the NEC lacked the balls to suspend the man who has done colossal damage, the sort never experienced in the party’s history? Even though Wike still parades himself as a PDP member, he is, through his association with the APC government, doing incalculable damage to the PDP, and the party is allowing him to get away with it.It is true that the stage for PDP’s demise was set when, in the run-up to the 2015 polls, some PDP governors and other influential figures formed an alliance with the opposition, which was crucial to GEJ’s loss of power. Perhaps the party has endured this long because its members who worked against GEJ were humble enough to defect rather than stay and fight from within, as Wike is currently doing. The FCT minister has, through his actions, made it clear that he will, as he did during the 2023 polls, support PBAT and the APC in future elections. So why is PDP still keeping him?Why can’t the party ask Wike to either toe the path of decency, honourably resign and join his newfound love- the APC – or be suspended? How come the party is allowing an NWC that is pliable to a man who has done such huge damage to continue in office? PDP is a walking dead, and its demise is consequent upon its own indecision. Its failure to address internal conflicts and provide effective opposition has led to its downfall. As Nigeria inches closer to becoming a one-party state, I am left with no choice but to ponder a befitting epitaph for the PDP.

NOTE: This article was first published on 25 April 2024, with slight modifications.

Elazeh is the GMD of LEADERSHIP Newspaper. He can be reached via: richmuaz@gmail.com