The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, has dismissed claims that the opposition party is in crisis, insisting that the PDP remains strong, united, and prepared for its national convention scheduled for November in Ibadan.
Speaking in an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, Ologunagba said:“The Peoples Democratic Party is about the Peoples Democratic Party, and no one individual is above that party, and no one individual owns that party. The PDP was never in ICU. Do we have challenges? Yes, we do. Just like every human organisation or every human being, we do.
“But what came out from all the recent recalibration of the party is the fact that this party has capacity at the appropriate time to come back up and start its own internal affairs, and that tells you the capacity of any organisation that is worth its name, that in challenging periods, you can step back and reorganise yourself, and that’s what the PDP is doing.”
He stressed that the party had undergone a post-mortem review after the 2023 elections and was focused on correcting past mistakes.
“As a party, after the 2023 elections and the challenges that came up with it, what we have done is to review our processes, speak to ourselves, find out where we were, what caused it, and like a post-mortem, what we’re trying to do is to prevent those things that have happened in the past. No one individual is vindicated.
“The institution that has been justified is the PDP – its capacity to look inward and say to itself, yes, there’s something we probably would have done differently, and now we’re doing that differently so that the unity you’re finding in the party and all its membership and all organs is there.”
Ologunagba added that the PDP remained the only true alternative for Nigerians, citing its nationwide presence.
“We are excited with the kind of reception and the interest Nigerians have in our party because indeed Nigerians know and they’ve realised that the only party that can truly get the country out of the woods is the PDP. One, because of its capacity in trying times to come up. Secondly, because of the followership across the country – because in every unit in this country, there’s a PDP member, at least 10 in every unit. You can’t say that about too many other parties. We are united, we are together, we’re moving forward for the national convention at Ibadan on the 15th and 16th of November, 2025.”
Responding to questions about disagreements within the party and zoning decisions, the PDP spokesman emphasised that internal debates were part of the party’s democratic culture.
“The beauty of democracy is the fact that people disagree. But the capacity of any political party to bring people within this fold to speak to each other is what is important. That is the bedrock of the PDP, because it is a party that allows for various views to be canvassed on any issue. Where we were about six months ago is not where we are today. That tells you the capacity of this party.”
On discipline for members who worked against the party during the last election, Ologunagba explained:
“A political party is not just about you give this, you do this. It’s about negotiation. However, about three weeks ago, we as a party, after reviewing all of the situation, decided to say, you know what, there’s a time to say enough. We’re at that point and we have issued a reprimand to every member of this party. Membership of a political party is free.
“There’s free entry, there’s free exit. But if you subscribe to obey the constitution, you must obey. We are at that point. We want to look forward. We don’t want to look backward.”
Addressing the controversy over whether former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike was invited to the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Ologunagba was categorical.
“This party is based on organisation and processes, and we have strived very strenuously to follow those processes. Leading to this new agreement of the national convention which is elective and has been scheduled for Ibadan on the 15th and 16th of November 2025, every organ of this party, every stakeholder were informed and were invited. Specifically, let me address the issue of Minister Wike.
“He was invited as a member of the NEC and the letter was duly received and acknowledged in his office, duly stamped. And so, to be disingenuous to say that he was never invited, that would not be true. Secondly, the notice was published in the national dailies. Again, it is elementary in law that when a public advertisement is made, it is a notice to the whole world. So there are two levels of notice to him.”
On speculation that the zoning arrangement was targeted at certain individuals, he maintained that the PDP was focused on strengthening its structures rather than personalities.
“As a party, truth is, it’s not clear right now. We’re focused on setting the party on a very strong foundation, which is to have a seamless, successful national convention. Today, this party is peopled by very credible, exceedingly qualified individuals, among the rank of governors, from their performances, that any of them who chose interest to contest the presidency is ready and available. President Jonathan is still a member of this party because he has not resigned.
“Mr. Obi is a presidential candidate in the last election for another political party; he has no indication that he’s joining the party. So it will be improper for me to begin to comment on that. What I can comment on is our capacity even as we stand, that we have exceedingly qualified individuals.”
The PDP spokesman concluded by stressing that Nigerians still recognised the party’s legacy and capacity to deliver.
“We are set for Ibadan, and all the arrangements – the venue, the logistics, the security arrangements – are ongoing as I speak. The only reason Nigerians are interested in the PDP is because they know the capacity of this party. They remember with nostalgia the 16 years of productive democracy and the opportunity for the pursuit of happiness in this country.
“The PDP stays, remains oasis of development centres in this country. From Taraba, to Bauchi, to Zamfara, to Bayelsa, to Oyo, these are flagship states. And you can take it to the bank that PDP is doing exceedingly well,”he concluded.
Boluwatife Enome
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