Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has sounded a grim warning about the future of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it risks becoming a political “carcass” if immediate and drastic reforms are not carried out.
Mr Fayose, a two-term governor and prominent PDP figure, gave this warning during a visit to President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos on Monday night. He stressed that despite his concerns about the PDP’s direction, he has no intention of defecting to another party.
“Let me be very clear. Ayodele Fayose will not move from PDP to any other political party, not even the APC. I am 65 years old this year. Defection is a personal choice, and I cannot speak for those who have moved. Some say they are impressed with the president’s performance, others believe the PDP is in disarray, and truthfully, the PDP is in serious trouble. If something drastic is not done, the party will become a carcass. That is the gospel truth,” he declared.
The PDP has been grappling with internal divisions since its 2022 presidential primaries, which saw former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerge as its flagbearer. The outcome deepened fractures within the party, notably as five governors, including the then-governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, distanced themselves from Atiku’s campaign.
The crisis deepened further in 2023 following the refusal of PDP’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, to step down after his loss in the Imo governorship race. In a move to replace him, the South-east zonal chapter nominated Ude-Okoye, a former national youth leader, but the power tussle lingers. On Monday, Mr Wike and other party stakeholders were seen rallying behind Mr Anyanwu, signalling continued division.
Though widely believed to be politically aligned with Mr Wike, Mr Fayose distanced himself from the current drama, noting that he no longer plays a frontline role in national politics.
“I’m no longer in the frontline; I am not a sitting governor anymore. When I was governor of Ekiti State, I made significant contributions. I was a hotbed of opposition and a strong voice for the PDP, everybody knew that. But today, I can only play a supportive role. Still, I must speak the truth: without urgent action, the PDP is headed for serious decline,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the opposition party, stating, “Yes, I am a party man, and that is why I said earlier that I will never leave the PDP for any other party. The moment I’m no longer in the PDP, I would rather quit partisan politics altogether.”
During the meeting, Mr Fayose also expressed moderate support for the current administration under President Tinubu, despite having been a vocal critic of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“For Nigerians, no one is saying it is easy. There is no miracle that can turn things around overnight. But for the little the president has done, we must commend him,” he said.
Mr Fayose added that some of the early steps taken by President Tinubu to stabilise Nigeria’s economy were commendable, especially under the challenging circumstances he inherited.
“Even while I was in office, I had always believed in his leadership and I never hid my support for him, even before he became President. As leaders, we must be courageous enough to encourage him where he is doing well. Stabilising an economy that was on the brink is no small feat. There’s a clear difference between total change and steady stabilisation. The steps taken so far by the President, especially regarding the economy and the currency, give us hope,” he explained.
He also used the opportunity to clarify his position on Ekiti State politics, saying the state’s development should supersede political interests. He applauded the performance of the current APC governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, whom he described as “doing very, very well”.
“We have a governor in Ekiti who is doing very, very well. All the former governors are solidly behind him. In Ekiti, governance goes beyond political lines, our state is our primary constituency. It is only through unity that development can happen,” Mr Fayose said.
He added that he had sought further assurance from President Tinubu about his support for Governor Oyebanji.
“The last time I visited the president, I asked him about his position on Governor Oyebanji. He assured me of his support. Today, I asked again to clear the air because of the rumours flying around. His response was the same: ‘Ayo, that is where I am.’ And I told him, I remain with the Governor.”
