By Suleiman Ibrahim.
Tajudeen Yusuf, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former House of Representatives member, has attributed the party’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election to the perceived arrogance of its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In light of ongoing internal turmoil within the PDP, Yusuf emphasized that the party risks repeating past mistakes if it does not address its current issues.
During a recent Board of Trustees meeting in Abuja, which was marred by violence, Yusuf expressed concern over the internal power struggles among party members. He noted that many are positioning themselves for the upcoming 2027 general elections, leading to a chaotic environment that detracts from the party’s effectiveness as an opposition force.
Yusuf criticized the party’s current dynamics, stating that the focus on individual ambitions undermines the collective strength and purpose of the PDP. He pointed out that merely being a candidate does not guarantee electoral success, highlighting the need for a more robust approach to politics and governance.
The violence at the BoT meeting, according to Yusuf, is indicative of the broader leadership failures within the party, as well as the ongoing struggle for control among over-ambitious members. He acknowledged that the PDP’s mechanisms for resolving internal conflicts have proven inadequate, further exacerbating the crisis.
“What you have seen ahead of 2027 is that people are struggling for structure, for who controls what, and to become the party’s candidate. They forget the fact that being a candidate alone does not make you president. We lost the last election because I feel our flagbearer was too cocky and so sure he was the next president,” Yusuf said.
The ex-lawmaker further said that the PDP is not playing opposition as it should, adding that the crisis rocking the party is orchestrated by overambitious party members.
“The PDP is not playing opposition as it should because the PDP finds itself in the quagmire of over-ambitious men who believe they must always run for elections. A political party should be robust and not be about you running for election,” Yusuf said.
He stated that the violence that marred the BoT meeting was a manifestation of the struggle for control and power ahead of the next presidential primary.
Yusuf, who represented Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu constituency, admitted that the PDP’s internal mechanism for crisis resolution has failed, adding that the violence witnessed during the BoT meeting was a manifestation of the party’s leadership failure.
