‘Leadership Crisis Designed To Weaken PDP’

Former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbodiyan, has said the crisis rocking the party is designed to weaken it ahead of the 2027 election.

“All these crises are being generated to make sure that the party does not have its cohesion and unity, it must deter so that the people who are in government, the party in government will be able to suppress the other opposition parties.”

He suggested that the current crises are being used to weaken the PDP’s capacity to effectively challenge other political parties at the national level.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Ologbodiyan affirmed that Sunday Udeh Okoye is the legitimate national secretary of the PDP, as confirmed by the Court of Appeal.

“First and foremost, I want to say that as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, whatever Mr Ologunagba comes out to say is the official position of the PDP,” Ologbodiyan said.

He added, “Ologunagba has forthrightly said, legitimately and constitutionally, that Sunday Udeh Okoye is the person recognised by the party and until he says otherwise, I think that his position is valid.”

On the issue of external interference, particularly from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ologbodiyan expressed concern over efforts to undermine the PDP. He explained.

“There is an attempt to reduce the PDP to a branch or an arm of the APC.”

Addressing internal party conflicts, Ologbodiyan acknowledged that there are issues within the PDP but emphasised that external factors have worsened the situation.

“Yes, there are issues in the party… but how can issues of the party lead to truckload of policemen coming to take over the party or coming to station at the party?” he questioned, underscoring the role of external influence in exacerbating internal tensions.

Ologbodiyan expressed caution about the PDP’s future, noting that it largely depends on the party’s leadership.

“It largely depends on how the party works itself out,” he said.

He also remarked on the divisions within the National Working Committee and the need for stronger leadership to resolve these issues. Despite the uncertainty, Ologbodiyan remained hopeful, stating, “But the weeks ahead look very promising, so we will see how they can achieve purpose.”