In a strong critique of the current state of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, has attributed the party’s challenges to its failure to accommodate the diverse interests of its members.
Ugochinyere, speaking at a conference titled “Fix PDP to Fix Nigeria” in Abuja, said that the party’s symbolic umbrella was “no longer wide enough to cover” its stakeholders, leading to a mass exodus of lawmakers and key figures.
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The lawmaker expressed disappointment over the PDP’s diminishing role as Nigeria’s main opposition, stating, “We are not even up to 10% as an opposition political party.”
He lamented the party’s inability to effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pointing to internal divisions and leadership issues as major obstacles.
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Ugochinyere highlighted the ongoing crisis within the PDP leadership, singling out Amb. Umar Damagum’s tenure as Acting National Chairman as a major source of discontent.
He criticized the party for failing to adhere to its constitution in selecting a new chairman, referencing Articles 45 and 47 of the PDP constitution.
“The NWC is like a judge. You are not only supposed to do justice but must be seen to be doing justice,” he said, urging the party to resolve its leadership struggles.
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He also acknowledged that the party’s inability to unite its members had resulted in significant losses, referencing Peter Obi’s emergence as a strong contender in the last election.
“We have been so decimated that Peter Obi left just a few days ago and now controls the same 12 states as we do,” Ugochinyere noted, warning that the new generation of voters is drifting away from the PDP.
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The conference, themed “Fix PDP to Fix Nigeria,” emphasized the need for internal reforms to rescue the party from its current state.
Ugochinyere called for the PDP to fix its internal issues before it could effectively play its role in Nigeria’s political landscape.
He also pointed to former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s role in the party’s decline, criticizing his handling of the 2023 election and his strained relationship with key governors.
Ugochinyere argued that Atiku’s indifference to the grievances of five PDP governors ahead of the election was a major misstep, further weakening the party.
While acknowledging that some of the problems were inherited by the current leadership, Ugochinyere stressed the need for immediate reforms, urging party members to stop avoiding the hard conversations and to prioritize unity and leadership integrity if the PDP is to regain its strength.
