Former Governor of Benue State and current Senator, Gabriel Suswam, has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warning that without swift and decisive reforms, the party may disintegrate before the 2027 general elections.
Suswam made the statement during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Tuesday, where he likened the PDP’s current condition to a critically ill patient on life support.
“The PDP is in the hospital. Is it in the ICU? Yes, to some extent,” he said. “Can it be rescued? Yes, but only if the proper medicine is applied.”
The party, which once dominated Nigeria’s political landscape, is now grappling with deep internal divisions, including an ongoing leadership dispute over the office of the National Secretary. This is further compounded by high-profile defections that have shaken the party’s foundations.
In Delta State, a political stronghold for the PDP, the recent exit of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa—along with several key stakeholders—to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marked a significant shift in the state’s political dynamics and a blow to the PDP’s influence.
Suswam expressed concern that many PDP members across the country have grown disillusioned and are waiting to see whether the party can be salvaged.
“A lot of people are hanging on, waiting to see the ultimate end of this party,” he said.
However, he pointed to efforts by some party stakeholders, including a reconciliation initiative led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, as a potential lifeline.
“Whether there is light at the end of the tunnel in the efforts made by Senator Saraki will be seen in the next two weeks,” Suswam noted. “If those efforts fail, then the party might not survive.”
Political analysts say the PDP’s situation underscores the urgent need for internal restructuring, party discipline, and stronger leadership cohesion if it hopes to remain a viable force ahead of the next election cycle.
