PDP Crisis: From G5 Saboteurs to Neo-G5 Subversion — A Critical Examination of Nigeria’s Main Opposition Party

      Political Panorama Issue No 13

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once hailed as Africa’s largest and most promising political party, now resembles a fractured vessel adrift in treacherous political waters, leaking integrity, discipline, and purpose at every turn. 

What began as internal dissent has now metastasized into full-blown sabotage, both ideological and structural. The emergence of the neo-G5 bloc, a clandestine cohort of governors and party leaders colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilize the opposition space ahead of 2027 marks a dangerous new phase in the PDP’s decline. And this descent did not occur in a vacuum.

                               

Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagun
PDP Acting National Chairman

The PDP's internal conflicts have intensified, with disputes over leadership positions and strategic direction. The National Working Committee (NWC) has been marred by suspensions and counter-suspensions, reflecting deep-seated divisions within the party's hierarchy. ​

These internal disputes have not only weakened the party's organizational structure but have also eroded public confidence in its ability to present a united front against the ruling APC. The lack of a cohesive strategy and unified leadership has left the party vulnerable to external manipulation and internal sabotage.​

What makes this crisis more damning is not merely the conduct of its  neo-G5 governors, but the institutional weakness of the party in responding. The party has become a breeding ground for undisciplined political actors, a platform where governors run rogue, party leaders are easily compromised, and strategic vision is sacrificed for selfish gain under the guise of aligning with the Centre.

PDP has consistently failed to discipline errant members, allowing insubordination to fester. The G5 rebellion should have led to sanctions. Instead, one of its ringleaders, Nyesom Wike, with the support and approval of the party leadership, was rewarded with a ministerial position by the very ruling party he helped install while still claiming PDP membership.

This moral hazard has emboldened the neo-G5, who now believe they can strangle coalition efforts, frustrate opposition unity, and still get rewarded, either with federal appointments, resource allocation favours, or political protection.

The Anatomy of Sabotage from G5 to neo-G5

To grasp the gravity of the current crisis, we must first draw a clear distinction between the G5 and the Neo-G5 groupings within the PDP.

The G5 Governors, who styled themselves as the "Integrity Governors," were five sitting governors—Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). They openly rebelled against the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 general election. Their discontent was rooted in the fallout over the party’s zoning formula and the refusal of then-Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to resign. The G5’s defiance played a decisive role in fracturing PDP’s national strength during the election, particularly in the South.

                                     

Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi, state)
Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum

The neo-G5, in contrast, is a more insidious force, operating clandestinely to undermine coalition politics and entrench APC hegemony ahead of 2027. A core of current PDP governors including Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), already defected to APC, Peter Mbah (Enugu), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) boasting to defect to APC any moment from now, and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) are suspected to be the leading figures in the bloc. While some of them were part of the original G5, others are new entrants who mask collaboration with the APC behind party loyalty rhetoric. Their political moves indicate a systematic effort to weaken internal cohesion and block any merger, alliance, or consensus candidate that might challenge APC dominance in 2027.

Notably, their activities are often enabled by select leaders within the PDP’s National Working Committee and zonal caucuses, who either benefit from the status quo or have quietly realigned their allegiances with the presidency in hopes of political survival.

Allegations of Dual Loyalties and External Influences

There are growing whispers and suspicions that certain neo-G5 members are receiving indirect political patronage and financial incentives from the APC-led presidency. These alleged benefits range from inflated state project allocations to preferential federal disbursements. Such arrangements suggest a dual loyalty, where these individuals leverage the PDP's platform for local political gains while subtly advancing the APC's national agenda. ​A typical example of this leverage was the recent rally organised in April at Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State by a group of PDP members and leaders called NEW (an acronym for Nyesom Ezenwo Wike) Associates to appreciate President Bola Tinubu for appointing illustrious sons and daughters of Bayelsa State to key positions in the federal government. They  therefrom declared support for the President Bola Tinubu's 2027 presidential bid and also declared support for Wike to continue working for the APC and President Tinubu while retaining his PDP membership.

This duality not only compromises the integrity of the PDP but also blurs the lines between opposition and ruling party dynamics, thereby weakening the checks and balances essential for a healthy democracy.​

A caution to the Nigerian Electorate on the neo-G5 Strategy of Delay, Divide, Destabilize. (3Ds)

The neo-G5 governors and their allies will employ a three-pronged strategy. This includes Delay, Divide and Destabilize referred to as 3Ds. 

With Delay, the group will stall any conversation on coalition formation or early opposition planning by citing "party loyalty" or "internal reconciliation processes" such as meetings with Nyesom Wike for "lasting solution”. Their real intent is to buy time for APC to consolidate its position, especially in the North and Southwest. This strategy was signaled by the recent rejection of coalition initiatives. This is indicative of a broader strategy to fragment opposition efforts. By distancing themselves from potential alliances with other opposition parties, the neo-G5 group is effectively weakening the collective capacity to challenge the APC's dominance. ​The reluctance to engage in coalition-building seriously undermines the democratic process by limiting the electorate's options and consolidating power within a single party framework. It also raises concerns about the PDP's commitment to fostering a competitive political environment.​

The Divide strategy will see the neo-G5 group fracture potential alliances with LP, NNPP, SDP, or civil society movements by injecting suspicion, emphasizing south-north narratives, or promoting alternative presidential aspirants who lack mass support.

The group will tactically strive to Destabilize the party. It will undermine the party’s internal cohesion and prevent occupation of party office by an "outsider" as in the cases of the party National Chairman and National Secretary. The group will ensure that the party is never strong enough to pose a unified front, especially if a popular consensus candidate like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, or any technocratic outsider emerges.

Navigating the Path Forward to Sanity

If the PDP wishes to avoid total political extinction, it must act now by taking some decisive steps

The Party should name and sanction the neo-G5 actors, even if it means temporary electoral pain. Long-term credibility is more valuable than short-term accommodation. The party should create a robust internal code of loyalty, enforceable with consequences, akin to the ANC’s disciplinary processes in South Africa. The party should as a matter of necessity convene a Coalition Rescue Congress, bringing together opposition forces, civil society, diaspora influencers, and youth blocs to build a post-2027 roadmap that bypasses entrenched saboteurs. Educating the public using many media outlets, about the actors and interests obstructing Nigeria’s democratic recovery should occupy a prominent position in the party’s rescue agenda.

Currently, the party stands at a crossroads, facing the imperative to reassess its internal structures, reaffirm its ideological commitments, and restore discipline within its ranks. Failure to address these challenges may result in further erosion of its political relevance and the consolidation of a one-party dominant system in Nigeria.​

Next Monday - Labour Party’s fast-Track Degeneration: How Nigeria’s 'Third Force' Is Repeating PDP’s Downward Journey

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