The ongoing leadership tussle within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shows no signs of resolution, with sources attributing the crisis to a covert agreement between President Bola Tinubu and several PDP governors, Daily Sun reports.
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According to a PDP insider, a “gentleman’s pact” has been sealed between President Tinubu and some first-term PDP governors. The deal allegedly ensures the governors’ support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 without requiring their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In return, Tinubu is said to provide support for the governors’ re-election bids.
“The pact is such that Mr. President will get the support of the governors without necessarily defecting to the APC. They will help to deliver the president in their various states, while the president would, in turn, provide support for them to win their re-election,” the source revealed.
The source pointed to recent comments by Akwa Ibom State Governor, who openly declared his support for Tinubu’s second term, as evidence of the pact. The governor reportedly said, “I’m supporting Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. When the time comes, I’ll tell you why. The time hasn’t come yet. But, when it does, you’ll understand.”
However, a chieftain of the APC dismissed the claims of any such pact, calling them baseless speculation.
The source further noted that former Rivers State Governor and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has played a significant role in solidifying Tinubu’s influence within the PDP. Wike’s alignment with Tinubu is said to have emboldened other PDP governors, including those from Plateau, Adamawa, and Oyo, to align with the president. The source also suggested that Wike is behind the ongoing dispute over the PDP’s national secretary position, further deepening the party’s internal crisis.
“Wike may not be in good terms with Bala Mohammed (Bauchi Governor) for now. Rest assured, they will work together for Tinubu, especially if Atiku eventually picks the party’s ticket,” the source said.
The source highlighted Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed’s public stance against supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, citing Atiku’s alleged support for the APC candidate in the last Bauchi governorship election. This sentiment was echoed by Mohammed’s son, who openly declared their refusal to back Atiku.
The insider predicted that the PDP’s internal divisions would not pose a significant challenge to Tinubu’s re-election ambitions. The alleged pact, described as a “you rub my back, I rub yours” arrangement, is seen as a strategic move to secure Tinubu’s second term, a goal shared by most first-term presidents seeking to extend their tenure to eight years.
The source also pointed to historical trends, noting that no political party has won a presidential election since 2003 without defections and realignments. The APC’s gains in 2015, including the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and several PDP governors, were cited as examples. Conversely, the APC lost the Senate President and some governors to defections ahead of the 2019 election.
Recent defections by National Assembly members to the APC have further bolstered Tinubu’s position. With the ruling party gaining ground, analysts suggest that Tinubu is steadily consolidating power ahead of the 2027 elections.
As the PDP grapples with its leadership crisis and allegations of external influence, the party’s ability to present a united front against the APC remains in question. For now, the internal strife and strategic realignments appear to favor Tinubu’s political ambitions.
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