Why Nigeria's one-time political giant may face extinction
Once a giant of African politics, the PDP is in danger of being wiped out after January's elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once the dominant political force in Nigeria, now faces potential extinction. Facing an uncertain future in the January general election, the party's survival hinges on its ability to overcome internal strife. A factional struggle, which has resulted in legal battles over leadership, threatens to render the PDP irrelevant at the polls.
The party, founded in 1998, enjoyed unparalleled power after the end of military rule, governing the country for 16 years before losing the 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari. This defeat marked a turning point for the PDP, as internal conflicts and defections further eroded its base. The party's once-impenetrable hold on power now appears tenuous, with only three states remaining under its control.
Despite some die-hard loyalists remaining optimistic about a resurgence by 2032, analysts believe the PDP faces an uphill battle, unless it forms strategic alliances with other opposition parties.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
