The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has unveiled plans to solicit financial support from its members at all levels, requesting a contribution of ₦10,000 each as part of a revitalization strategy aimed at combating godfatherism that has long undermined the party’s growth and effectiveness.
Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP, disclosed this development during a press briefing over the weekend. He emphasized that the party is currently undergoing a critical period of rebirth and reorganization with the ultimate goal of reclaiming political power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Ememobong detailed the party’s journey, stating:
“Life is a curve; you go from the bottom to the apex and back down again. We started from zero in 1998, ruled for 16 years, and then began a descent. We have reached the bottom of the valley, and now we are heading back up. This is a rebirth process, which is always painful. We are analyzing our mistakes and successes.”
He further distinguished between the party’s “qualitative” and “quantitative” voices, explaining that while elite perspectives are significant, democracy fundamentally depends on numbers. “We are balancing these while navigating the court process. Simultaneously, we are using a ‘poly-opportunity strategy’—fighting in court while conducting grassroots mobilization and stakeholder engagement.”
The cornerstone of PDP’s renewed strategy, according to Ememobong, is a return to grassroots funding. He elaborated:
“The strategy is simple: go back to the people. You need funding to entice people, but when people are with you voluntarily, they fund the cause. In 1998, people brought small contributions to fund the party, and that gave them a voice. When Governors took over the funding, the people were pushed aside. We are returning to that voluntary model. If 60 million Nigerians give ₦10,000 each, that is a huge sum. We are seeing this mass movement already in states like Plateau and Akwa Ibom.”
On upcoming elections, the spokesperson ruled out forming alliances with other political parties to contest the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “The FCT is historically PDP territory at the local government level. We are reaching the ‘500 people’ directly rather than through one elite ‘gatekeeper.’”
Regarding recent internal party matters, Ememobong noted that the PDP’s candidate in Ekiti emerged through a transparent process, affirming their intention to seek judicial validation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the candidate’s recognition.
Touching on the prospect of a merger with other opposition parties, he said:
“The time for that hasn’t matured. We are in an ‘embryonic stage’ of collaboration. We have an understanding among the opposition because we face a common adversary—the ruling party—which won with less than 40% of the vote. We refrain from attacking other opposition parties like the Labor Party or ADC because we are focused on the larger goal.”
When asked about the outlook for 2026 in terms of security and the economy, Ememobong painted a grim picture. “The outlook is gloomy. We are seeing a ‘normalization of insecurity’ where feeling unsafe has become the norm. We need comprehensive, sustainable solutions, not makeshift ones like using NYSC camps for police training. The best ambassadors to change the narrative aren’t PR firms in Washington, but the citizens in Benue, Plateau, and Borno who live these realities every day.”
The PDP’s call for grassroots funding and the focus on internal restructuring signal a renewed attempt to reposition the party as a viable alternative ahead of future elections. Whether this strategy will invigorate the party base and translate into electoral success remains a key question in the nation’s evolving political landscape.
