THE RETURN OF PDP

By 'ThisDay' editor The performances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded presidential and gubernatorial polls have surprised many Nigerians. The party suffered a great defeat in the 2015 general election. It lost power at the centre and some states particularly in Northern Nigeria. With the defeat and the attendant shock or confusion that trailed the party, many Nigerians thought the party would cease to exist. These assumptions were proved wrong as the party had a breath of fresh air in the 2019 general election. In the build up to the 2015 general election, the party was enmeshed in zoning crises. The position of president which was supposed to be zoned to the North was denied by Goodluck Jonathan. This action led to the mass exodus of the party’s members to the new APC. Other factors that contributed to the party’s defeat were corruption and insecurity. Nigerians were fed up with worsening insecurity in the North-east states and other parts of the country. The menace of Boko Haram and the escalation of bombings across the country indicated leadership failure. These negative indices shaped the 2015 election and aided APC to power. The PDP also suffered post-election crises. The former acting chairman, Ahmed Makarfi fought a fierce battle with his arch rival, Ali Modu-Sheriff over the control of the party. At last, through court order, Makarfi was recognized as legitimate acting chairman of the party. The party also succeeded in conducting rancour-free convention where new leaders emerged. Now, it is history. The questions begging for answers are: how did the party get a new lease of life? What are the magic wands the party employed to put its house in order? The APC since the time it came on board had been making political blunders. Firstly, the corruption it accused PDP of entrenching has also been perpetuated under its watch. The Babachir Lawal’s grass cutting saga, the reinstatement of former chairman of pension board, Abdulrashid Maina, etc., are still fresh in the minds of Nigerians. The APC-led government was also accused of selective war against corruption.