Tinubu’s grip sparks mass exodus from PDP

DDM News

Senator Chris Ekpenyong, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed serious concerns about the ongoing defections within the party, particularly involving key figures joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The recent movement of prominent PDP members, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his deputy Sir Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, to the APC has severely shaken the opposition party and heightened tensions within its ranks.

In an exclusive interview with Diaspora digital media (DDM) on Saturday, Ekpenyong, who served as Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 1999 to 2007, predicted that other governors from the PDP, including Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, may soon follow suit and join the APC.

This statement comes amidst growing concerns that the PDP is struggling to maintain its influence and relevance in the face of defections, many of which have been driven by the decisions of its leadership.

Ekpenyong noted that PDP’s chances of making a comeback are increasingly slim, given the significant defections to the ruling party.

He specifically criticized the leadership of the party under former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, pointing to his persistent ambition to contest for the presidency again under the PDP platform as a key factor in the party’s current state of disarray.

According to Ekpenyong, the decision by Atiku to run again has created divisions within the party, pitting the interests of northern and southern members against each other, further exacerbating the party’s internal struggles.

“Tinubu has effectively destroyed the PDP,” Ekpenyong lamented, suggesting that the party’s troubles began with Atiku’s insistence on contesting, despite calls for him to step down.

He further expressed concerns that Akwa Ibom, his home state, might also follow the pattern of defection, leading to further fragmentation of the PDP’s support base.

Ekpenyong placed much of the blame for the current predicament on the party’s leadership, particularly the governors, whom he claims were given too much power within the party.

He argued that this was a critical mistake made by founding members like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who Ekpenyong claimed had seized control of the party, leaving little room for the input of others.

The lack of strong opposition figures has led to disillusionment among party members, making it difficult for the PDP to mount an effective challenge to the APC in future elections.

“The mistake PDP made was giving too much power to the governors,” Ekpenyong reflected.

He also mentioned how key figures, such as the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, had once tried to stand against Obasanjo’s dominance within the party.

However, such voices have largely been silenced, and the party now finds itself in a weakened position, unable to effectively challenge the APC’s growing control over Nigeria’s political landscape.

As defections continue and more states consider aligning with the APC, the future of the PDP remains uncertain, with many wondering whether it can regain its former strength or if it is doomed to further fragmentation.

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