Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, has warned that the party’s protracted internal crisis poses a serious threat to its preparedness for the 2027 general elections, insisting that only strict adherence to the rule of law can restore order and credibility.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Sunday, Ohuabunwa cautioned against disorder within the party, saying. “We cannot allow anarchy to take over control of the way a party runs, and we cannot also accept only what we like.”
Ohuabunwa stressed that the resolution of the PDP’s leadership tussle now rests squarely with the judiciary, noting that. “The Supreme Court judgement is what is going to decide what happens. For now, PDP is trying to rebuild, as you well know, the party had been battered from 2022 to date by different, clash of different interests and conflicts, and particularly lack of leadership.”
Describing the situation within the party as unstable, he said. “I must tell you that things are still very fluid and dynamic.
According to Ohuabunwa the absence of unifying leadership significantly contributed to the fragmentation within the party. “Because if PDP had had a leadership, proper leadership in the way we expect a leader to harmonise, galvanise people and show the way, we probably wouldn’t have scattered in different ways.”
Despite the divisions, he maintained that the PDP remains one political entity. “PDP is one party. The struggle is leadership. And that is what happens in some parties. But politics is a struggle for power, struggle for interest. Sometimes those interests may not align, but principally the interest should be what is best for the people of Nigeria. But you find in politics sometimes it’s personal interest, sometimes it’s group interest, and there are conflicts.”
Ohuabunwa underscored the need for party members to respect judicial outcomes, regardless of personal preferences. “Whatever the law says, I believe that as responsible Nigerians and citizens, we should respect the law and obey the law. If the law says something different, then we’ll follow the law, whatever the highest court says. Since we have gotten to the stage where the leaders are going to resolve their problems, and it is not the court that is resolving the problem. The same thing with most of the other opposition parties. Since this affliction of dissonance and dislocation has affected all the opposition parties, we are hoping that the judgements, especially coming from the two, PDP and ADC, will calm the environment and set the view for 2027.”
He oted that an Appeal Court had already recognised a leadership within the party. “The appeal court has recognised a leadership, and that leadership is what we, myself and many plus in, we have to support.”
However, Ohuabunwa reiterated that the final authority lies with the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court judgement that is awaited is what will decide what happens to PDP’s ability to participate actively in 2027. But for me, whichever way it goes, PDP will participate, because the people are already angling. Right now there is, as I said, a leadership recognised by the law, and therefore they will present candidates. If there’s an opportunity for everybody to unite, which is what is going on now, at the last NEC meeting it was decided that we need to not just talk about reconciliation by word of mouth, but go out of our way to ensure that we convince people that it’s one party.”
He expressed confidence that the party would remain in contention regardless of the outcome. “Whichever way it goes, PDP will participate, because the people are already angling.”
On reconciliation efforts, Ohuabunwa revealed that the party leadership had begun taking concrete steps to address internal divisions. “At the last NEC meeting it was decided that we need to not just talk about reconciliation by word of mouth, but go out of our way to ensure that we convince people that it’s one party. It is a matter of differences, and those differences at this time can be reconciled. We cannot allow anarchy to take over control of the way a party runs, and we cannot also accept only what we like. The law is there to settle where there’s a conflict, and whatever the law says, I believe that as responsible Nigerians and citizens, we should respect the law and obey the law.”
He also rejected claims linking him to any faction within the party, stating that. “I don’t belong to any faction. I belong to PDP. I have one registered number at my ward in Ward 3 in Harwich Poole, local government of the state. That’s where I’m registered. And therefore I don’t belong to a faction. That’s why I’ve kept quiet. I’ve not moved from one place to the other. I believe that PDP will survive all of us, no matter what we are doing to destroy the party or not to.”
According to Ohuabunwa, the crisis within the PDP reflects a broader trend across opposition parties. “This affliction of dissonance and dislocation has actually affected all the opposition parties, we are hoping that the judgements, especially coming from the two PDP and ADC, will calm the environment and set the view for 2027.”
On the prospects of alliances ahead of the elections, he described coalition-building as a normal feature of multi-party democracies. “The issue of alignment, it’s a normal political development in the whole world, where there’s multi-party system. People, parties measure and assess their capacity to win alone, and then they might get into alliances. So I think it’s a good development. And as I said previously, if the opposition parties want to give the president a run for his money, I mean, President Tinubu, who is campaigning like he had never campaigned all his life, then if they align, it would be a good way to give him a run for his money, and to make sure we present something comparative to the voting public.”
Ohuabunwa argued that credible opposition is essential for democratic legitimacy. “It would do President Tinubu well to have opposition, because if he’s alone on the ballot, it would not serve him well. The legitimacy of the election may be questioned, My answer is yes. My answer is yes, because I came to run for office based on a motivation I will continue to present myself each time there’s an opportunity to do something for Nigeria.”
Reflecting on his previous attempt, he pointed to the influence of money in Nigerian politics. “I expected my party delegates to support me, but they didn’t support me because I didn’t have the resources to buy their votes and questions, Nigeria has a monetised political culture. It is given. Monetised. There’s no space. If you don’t have money, it will take a miracle.”
Expanding on governance, Ohuabunwa offered a critical assessment of current economic reforms. “Sincerely, the government has taken very strong reforms they started with. That was what everybody was looking how we’re going to do it. I was going to do the same. The only problem is that I’m going to do it differently. I’m not going to shock people. I don’t believe in shock therapy.”
He warned that current fiscal policies were placing excessive strain on citizens. “We seem to have solved it, and then got into a worse expenditure crisis, that is making us borrow from everywhere we can borrow, making us tax that everybody can tax.”
On the impact of reforms, Ohuabunwa stated that. “The people are not seeing the effect. They’re just paying prices without seeing any return, They act and behave and talk and live like they are not touched with the pains of the people.”
Calling for empathy and adjustment from those in power he said. “They should please come down from their high horse, feel the pain of the people, adjust their own lifestyle. Government is to move the quality of life for citizens from a lower level to a higher level.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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