It was as if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was waiting for the defection of some of its ageing juggernauts to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in order to properly exhale. Now, the leading opposition party is not just exhaling, it is beginning to find its voice and to cut fresh path through Nigeria’s forested politics, unhindered by the cacophonous voices of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Dino Melaye, Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, John Oyegun, and a host of other pretenders. They have all moved to a different political platform where they hope to accomplish their objectives. Some moved because of ambition, others moved out of loyalty to their former comrades, and others are moving because of financial gain. Having not found accommodation in the bigger and more financially solid parties, they needed to find new pastures in order not to be left high and dry in the politics of 2027.
The most curious and remarkable thing about the PDP is in fact not the movement of its ageing autocrats to new pastures, but the new realisation that the leading opposition party does in fact possess an older but far brighter lustre than they imagined it ever had. Leading this epiphanic rebirth is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesome Wike who, despite his unending fight with the party’s leadership, has noted the party’s newfound unity and purpose, especially in the face of the ADC threat. The power grabbers had left, he exulted; now the party can forge ahead meaningfully. The All Progressives Congress (APC), armed with a chuckle, seconds his summation.
Credit:Nation