ABUJA/Nigeria: South-South Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Ogidi, has admitted that the party was careless in the conduct of the 2023 general elections but assured Nigerians that such mistakes will not be repeated as the party prepares for future contests.
Ogidi, a former national vice chairman of the party, said in a recent interview with Trust TV, Daily Politics, that the PDP had underestimated the scale of internal and external challenges it faced, a miscalculation that weakened its electoral strength. “We were careless, no doubt about that,” he said. “We didn’t manage our internal crisis well, and it gave room for unnecessary divisions. But never again will we allow such to happen.”
He explained that the outcome of the 2023 elections was a lesson in political discipline, stressing that the PDP has since gone back to the drawing board to correct the lapses that led to its poor performance. “The mistakes are clear, and we have acknowledged them. What matters now is ensuring that those mistakes are not repeated,” he added.
Ogidi maintained that Nigerians were still looking up to the PDP as the only credible alternative to the ruling party. “The truth is that Nigerians know the PDP has the capacity, the spread, and the structures to rescue this country. What we need to do is to put our house in order,” he said.
The caretaker chairman said one of the major failings in 2023 was the inability of the PDP to reconcile warring factions on time, thereby giving room for defections and weakening its electoral chances. “We allowed grievances to fester instead of nipping them in the bud. That was carelessness, and it hurt us badly. This time, reconciliation is top priority,” he declared.
According to him, reconciliation alone will not be enough; the party must also ensure internal democracy and transparency in its primaries. “People must have confidence that the process is fair. Imposition of candidates is no longer acceptable. Nigerians want credible candidates, and that is what PDP will deliver,” Ogidi said.
He assured that under his watch as caretaker chairman in the South-South, the party would mobilize its structures to restore confidence in the PDP. “The South-South remains our stronghold, and we are committed to making it even stronger. We will not take our people for granted again,” he stated.
Ogidi explained that the PDP’s relevance in the South-South was not in doubt, as the zone had consistently delivered for the party, but admitted that complacency played a role in the last election. “The truth is that we relaxed too much. We thought we had everything under control, and it cost us. That is a mistake we won’t repeat,” he said.
He also called on party leaders across the six geopolitical zones to put aside personal differences and work together. “It’s not about individuals. It’s about the party, and more importantly, about Nigeria. Unity is the only way forward for PDP,” Ogidi stressed.
The caretaker chairman highlighted the importance of youth involvement, noting that the PDP must engage young Nigerians with fresh ideas and empowerment programmes. “The youths are the largest voting bloc. If we don’t carry them along, we are already failing. In 2027, you will see a PDP that listens to the young people,” he said.
He also urged women to take advantage of the PDP’s open-door policy to participate actively in politics. “Women have always been our strength at the grassroots. They mobilize, they organize, and they deliver. We are creating more room for them in leadership positions,” he added.
Ogidi further revealed that the PDP was reviewing its communication strategy. “One thing we did poorly in 2023 was communicating our agenda clearly. This time, we are engaging the media, civil society, and grassroots platforms in a more deliberate way. Nigerians will hear us loud and clear,” he said.
Dismissing suggestions that the PDP had lost its relevance, Ogidi insisted that the party had only stumbled but not fallen. “Anybody saying PDP is finished does not understand Nigerian politics. We made mistakes, yes, but PDP remains the only truly national party in Nigeria,” he argued.
He noted that Nigerians were becoming increasingly disillusioned with the APC, citing the worsening cost of living, unemployment, and insecurity. “The people are suffering. They can see the difference between when PDP was in power and what they are experiencing now. We will give them hope again,” he said.
The South-South caretaker chairman reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to internal reforms. “We are determined to return to the values of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. These were the principles that made PDP great, and we are bringing them back,” he assured.
Concluding, Ogidi expressed confidence that the PDP would bounce back stronger and reclaim power in 2027. “We cannot afford to be careless again. The PDP is ready to rise, stronger, united, and focused on giving Nigerians the leadership they deserve,” he declared.
