PDP Unity or Just a Pause Questions Linger After Party’s Sudden Truce

After months of open clashes, boycotts, and internal sabotage, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now claims to have buried its differences.

But doubts remain over whether this peace will last or if it’s just a pause in the infighting that has rocked Nigeria’s main opposition party since the 2023 general elections.

At the centre of the latest developments is the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary during the PDP’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja. His return followed a Supreme Court ruling in his favour, but only came after intense internal resistance. To avoid more legal disputes, the NEC agreed to bring him back on the condition that he drops his court cases and pledges not to disrupt the party’s national convention scheduled for August.

Behind this decision was a delicate compromise between two power blocs. One group, led by acting PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum and supported by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, backed Anyanwu. The other, including Governors Seyi Makinde, Peter Mbah, Ademola Adeleke, Douye Diri, and Dauda Lawal, preferred Setonji Koshoedo as Acting Secretary and fought against Anyanwu’s return. The National Working Committee (NWC) was also sharply divided.

Despite these divisions, the NEC made a show of unity. But cracks are still visible. Several prominent PDP figures have already switched sides. Governors like Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom have reportedly aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), weakening the PDP’s hold across the South-South.

Party leaders, however, insist that the internal reconciliation is genuine. The PDP’s National Vice Chairman (South-West), Ajisafe Toyese, said that once Anyanwu showed willingness to abide by the party’s rules, his opponents agreed to work with him. Former South-West Zonal Chairman Eddy Olafeso also said that the party has managed to bring everyone back to the table for the sake of unity and rebuilding.

But not everyone is convinced that the truce is durable. Wike remains a dominant figure within the party, and his loyalty is still in question. Since accepting a ministerial role under President Tinubu, he has maintained his PDP membership but is widely believed to be working at cross purposes with the opposition. His past actions, particularly during the 2023 presidential campaign when he led a group of five governors to oppose the party’s northern candidate, caused heavy damage to the PDP’s performance.

Observers say his influence over Damagum and support for Anyanwu shows he still controls key decisions. This raises concerns about how the party plans to manage discipline and loyalty ahead of the 2027 elections.

Olafeso argues that the party constitution gives room to act against any member who works against its interests. But he also says that people’s views can change, and the party must focus on stability first. Toyese echoes this view, stating that since Wike hasn’t officially quit, the party will concentrate on rebuilding rather than pushing anyone out.

Meanwhile, the PDP’s internal efforts are being matched by talks of a larger opposition alliance. Key opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, David Mark, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Aminu Tambuwal have started working under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner. Though the ADC is a small party, it is seen as a legally clean and politically neutral platform that could help unite forces against the APC in 2027.

What remains unclear is whether the PDP’s internal peace deal can hold long enough to make that coalition work. With some members already flirting with other parties and the party still nursing wounds from past betrayals, the road to recovery may be longer than expected.

For now, the PDP’s show of unity is a step forward. But it will take more than one meeting and a few handshakes to prove the truce is real and not just a well-staged timeout in an ongoing power struggle.