WARRI/Nigeria: A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sir Ken Okolugbo, has declared that efforts to reconcile factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have collapsed, warning that the party’s internal crisis could further weaken its chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Morning Show on Tuesday, Okolugbo said the Court of Appeal’s advice urging reconciliation within the PDP was unlikely to yield results, given the deep divisions and lingering legal disputes surrounding the party’s leadership and congresses.
The former member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council noted that the party’s decision to proceed with its convention despite earlier court rulings questioning its legality had worsened the crisis.
According to him, “What many of us expected was that the party would suspend its convention following those judgments, but they went ahead, and that laid the foundation for what is happening today.”
Okolugbo explained that conflicting court decisions and the PDP’s alleged failure to adhere to its own constitution had opened the door for judicial intervention, ultimately empowering a faction within the party to move ahead with its planned convention.
He identified lack of internal democracy as the root cause of the crisis, lamenting that early warnings by stakeholders were ignored.
“It is unfortunate that a party that once had about 14 governors has now dwindled significantly. The absence of internal democracy is what led to this situation,” he said.
On the likely recognition of the PDP convention, Okolugbo stated that the exercise would stand unless overturned by the Supreme Court, stressing that there was no subsisting order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising it.
However, he expressed doubts about the party’s ability to regain political momentum, citing internal disagreements among key figures and conflicting ambitions ahead of 2027.
Turning to the ruling APC, Okolugbo said the party had largely managed its internal affairs better, though he acknowledged that challenges still exist.
He noted that while contestations for party offices are normal, consensus-building remains critical to avoiding unnecessary divisions.
“In party administration, it is often better to adopt consensus for leadership positions rather than open contests that create avoidable crises,” he said.
On the emerging role of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a potential opposition platform, Okolugbo cautioned that the party must avoid the pitfalls of internal rivalry and unchecked ambitions.
“The ADC must learn from both the PDP and APC. If leaders prioritise personal ambition over collective interest, the party will struggle to present a credible alternative,” he warned.
Okolugbo also weighed in on Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement, arguing that current political realities favour the continuation of power in the South, making it difficult for a northern candidate to gain widespread acceptance at this time.
He suggested that aspirants from the North may need to wait until 2031 to have a realistic shot at the presidency.
Commenting on governance, he acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu initially triggered economic hardship but said there are signs of gradual stabilisation.
According to him, macroeconomic indicators suggest improvement, adding that “there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
He emphasised that opposition politics must go beyond criticism, urging political actors to present clear and credible alternatives to Nigerians.
“It is not enough to criticise the government. The opposition must tell Nigerians what they will do differently and better,” he said.
Okolugbo concluded that the future of Nigeria’s political landscape would largely depend on how parties manage internal democracy, leadership ambitions and strategic alliances in the lead-up to 2027.
