Barely two years to the 2027 presidential elections, Nigeria’s political landscape is already witnessing a flurry of activities, with politicians engaging in intense permutations.
The opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), are grappling with internal crises that may have far-reaching implications for the elections.
The PDP, which came second in the last presidential election, has been embroiled in a series of crises. The party’s internal wrangling began with the G-5 governors, led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, demanding that the party’s presidential ticket be zoned to the South. This led to a rift between Wike’s camp and the party’s national leadership, ultimately contributing to the party’s defeat in the presidential election.
Since the election, the struggle for control of the party has intensified, with Wike, now a Minister in the APC-led Federal Government, pulling strings from behind. Some analysts believe that Wike is being used by the APC to weaken the PDP ahead of 2027. The lingering crisis in Rivers State, where Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara are embroiled in a power tussle, has further fueled these suspicions.
A concerned PDP chieftain lamented, “Wike is being used by the APC-led Federal Government to destroy the PDP… Look at what is happening in Rivers State; the governor has been reduced to nothing, all thanks to Wike backed up by the Federal Government.”
The PDP’s crisis is compounded by the dispute over the party’s national secretary position, with Senator Sam Anyawu and Sunday Ude Okoye laying claim to the position. The party is also grappling with crises in Bayelsa and other states, with litigation accompanying these crises across the country.
The Labour Party (LP) is also embroiled in a leadership crisis, which has forced some national and state lawmakers elected on the platform to defect to other parties. The party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in September 2024 appointed a Caretaker Committee, sparking a legal tussle that has further deepened the crisis.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), which came fourth in the last presidential election, is also grappling with internal crises. The party’s founder, Boniface Aniebonam, is fighting to reclaim his position as founder from the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Analysts believe that these crises in the opposition parties may have been engineered by the ruling APC to weaken them ahead of 2027. However, the APC is also facing internal crises, particularly in the North, where some chieftains feel they have been marginalized in the distribution of appointments and infrastructure.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has openly expressed his frustration with the current Federal Government, sparking concerns that the North may not support President Bola Tinubu in 2027. The crisis in the APC is also evident in Lagos State, where a leadership tussle in the State House of Assembly has divided members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC).
Despite these challenges, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is emerging as a potential game-changer in the 2027 elections. The party has been gaining traction, with notable names embracing it. Former Kaduna State Governor El-Rufai was recently spotted in a closed-door meeting with SDP chairman Shehu Musa Gabam.
The SDP’s cohesion and stability, particularly in the last two years, have been impressive. The party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has been instrumental in holding the party together. According to public affairs commentator and lawyer C.I Nnamani, “Adebayo is arguably the only politician who has no baggage… He is clean by all parameters. He is young, cerebral, and knowledgeable.”
As the 2027 elections approach, the SDP’s prospects appear bright. With its internal cohesion and stability, the party may spring surprises in the elections. As Nnamani noted, “If the party features Adebayo again as its flag-bearer in 2027, there is every possibility that Nigerians may queue behind.”