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Hon. Dennis Adikwuru, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Imo State, is the National Secretary, Igbo People’s Movement (IPM) and erstwhile Executive Secretary, Igbo People’s Action Congress (IPAC). Adikwuru, a member of Imo State Presidential Campaign Council under Media and Publicity Sub-committee in the 2023 elections and erstwhile State Publicity Secretary, Imo State Professionals for Atiku, is also the State Coordinator, Imo PDP Grassroots Movement. He spoke to EJIKEME OMENAZU the current state of the major opposition party in Nigeria. Excerpt:

How do you see the one month suspension clamped down on the PDP National Secretary, Anyanwu, and another key figure over alleged indiscipline and the appointment of an Acting Secretary to oversee the affairs of the party during the period?

There is obviously a big crack on PDP walls and this has manifested in the roll-out of suspensions on the National Secretary and other key officers of the People’s Democratic Party. Honestly speaking, the lingering crises have held back the future of the party and I must say that the parties to the crises have been unfair to the party and its loyalists. If the suspension clamped on the errant party officials will bring back the party to reckoning, so be it. But, I am afraid it may rather escalate the crisis. Selfish benefits have been the bane of the PDP crises and that is the reason it has not been resolved till date.

What is your take on the emergence of a splinter group within PDP, one group backing Anyanwu and another group backing the National Chairman, Damagun?

The split of PDP into two factions is expected and it is most unhealthy for any political party which aims at providing governance at any level. I can only appeal to the two factions to resolve their differences and forge ahead. However, we may not witness much progress if they are under the control of ‘seen and unseen’ forces who are bent on running down the party.

With the crisis in PDP taking a new dimension and the court injunction placed on the planned November National Convention, would you say that the party is jinxed as all efforts to gather the pieces of the torn umbrella have been futile? Would you say this is the beginning of the end of PDP which had already lost its key stalwarts?

 It is unfortunate that the judiciary has come in to thwart efforts at electing new national officers of the party. The ruling which placed a hold on the coming national convention planned to hold in Ibadan is unfortunate and not in tune with any peaceful resolution mechanism. This does not speak well of the party and raises concern over the future of PDP in the coming elections.

 Would you say that Nyesom Wike is behind the current crisis in PDP?

Nyesom Wike has openly taken full responsibility for the PDP crises and all the dimensions of the crises. This is the height of rascality and exhibition of power corruption. It is also a manifestation of the weakness of the party leadership in bringing about sanity and enforcing discipline

 The suspended PDP National Secretary, Anyanwu, claimed that his signature used to formalise the holding of the now botched November National Convention was forged. How do you see this development? How possible for Anyanwu’s signature to be forged?

The issue of forged the signature of the National Secretary is before the Directorate of State Service (DSS). I can only say we are expecting to receive the report of DSS findings on the allegation of signature forgery. And I actually request that the findings on the National Secretary’s petition to DSS be made known and culprits be reprimanded.

Do you see PDP surviving all these? Crises and still remain a strong platform for 2027 politics?

The survival of PDP depends on the mission of the parties to the crises. If they call a truce and make progress, the party can rebuild and become stronger to face the coming elections. But, if the mission of the crisis gladiators is to bury PDP, then we are very unfortunate and we will allow them to send the party to the cemetery.

With the APC now commanding a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly following the continued defection of PDP members, would you say the 2027 general elections will be a walk-over for President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party?

 It is a fact that APC has taken over the National Assembly as well as the states, which is not a good omen for our democracy. Unfortunately, it is PDP that gave room for that. Ordinarily, this portends a clear cut victory for APC across all levels. Unfortunately, none of the opposition parties is addressing the worrisome mass defections of their members to APC. They easily lay hands on accusing APC of turning Nigeria into a one-party state. The truth is that the rest of the parties are paving the way for the landslide victory of President Tinubu. So, I won’t be surprised if the President coasts home to victory without much hassles come 2027.

How do you see the emerging realisation that the APC is gradually taking over the South East, which was unheard of in the past few years? What is your view on the current political balkanisation of the region?

It is not surprising that the South East is turning into an APC stronghold. I will at this moment tell you that APC and in particular, the President have worked their way into the heart of the South East and there is nothing anybody can do about it

As Anambra people went to the polls yesterday (Saturday) to elect their new governor, what do you think will be the outcome of the election?

Anambra governorship campaigns are laden with intrigues on both sides. Governor Soludo has suddenly become an image builder for the President, the current subject matter of US President Trump’s threat to invade Nigeria as a case study. He has lately spoken passionately in favour of the APC federal government and even boasts that his friendship with President Tinubu outdated the current political dispensation. On the side of APC candidates, they are basking in the euphoria of super power back-up and that is why Ekwunife is snubbing and exuberating everywhere. The dice is cast and it can go either APGA or APC depending on how the pendulum points.

 Following the resolve of IPAC to support President Tinubu in the 2027 election could you give an insight of how the group will pursue this vision without being swallowed up by Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Movement?

Igbo People’s Action Congress (IPAC) has a unique strategy in achieving the mission of building support for President Tinubu. The Renewed Hope Movement has its own. I do not foresee any clash, especially when the mission and interest are the same. IPAC will come up with enduring peace moves, unity drives, and eventually achieve mass Igbo support for the President’s second term election.