By Datong, Dominic Gwaman
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s oldest surviving political platform, has once again found itself in turbulent waters. Court orders halting its national convention, internal disputes over leadership legitimacy, and a wave of defections have triggered renewed speculation that the party may not even make it onto the ballot in 2027.
While these concerns are understandable, they are also exaggerated. The PDP’s situation is not beyond repair. The party’s crisis, though severe, remains internal and legally resolvable, and there is still sufficient time for the organization to recover fully ahead of the next general elections.
*The Reality Behind the Panic*
The growing number of defections from the PDP in recent months reflects a wave of anxiety among members who fear that the party might be disqualified or too fragmented to field candidates in the 2027 elections. However, such fears are premature and misplaced.
Nigeria’s Electoral Act, 2022, provides a clear legal timetable for political parties. Section 29(1) stipulates that all parties must submit their list of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not later than 180 days before the general election.
Given that the next general elections are expected around February 2027, the deadline for candidate submission will likely fall around August 2026. In other words, the PDP has nearly a full year from now to settle its leadership disputes, conduct a lawful national convention, and elect a national executive recognized by INEC.
This legal breathing space means the party still has the opportunity to stabilize its internal structure, unify its members, and re-establish national cohesion before the electoral process formally begins.
*Why the Leadership Question Matters*
While the PDP’s leadership wrangling may appear to be an internal affair, it carries legal implications that extend to its electoral viability. By law, only the validly recognized National Secretary of a political party can sign and submit the official list of candidates to INEC.
This makes the national leadership question a legal necessity, not just a political concern. For the PDP, therefore, resolving its leadership crisis is the first indispensable step toward ensuring that its candidates are validly nominated for the 2027 elections.
Until the party’s convention produces a leadership that INEC recognizes, even its most organized state chapters in the States will remain unable to transmit their nominations legally. The process is sequential: a legitimate national structure first, then valid state nominations.
*A Familiar Pattern of Resilience*
The PDP’s current predicament is not without precedent. Over the years, the party has survived crises that many predicted would lead to its demise, from the leadership split of 2016 to post-election internal realignments. In each case, it eventually emerged stronger through negotiated consensus and constitutional processes.
The present turmoil may well follow the same trajectory. The PDP’s institutional depth, nationwide spread, and long-standing political culture give it both the structure and the experience to self-correct, provided it acts with unity and urgency.
*The Message to Party Supporters and the Public*
There is a tendency in Nigerian politics to assume that internal disputes signal the end of a party. But this is rarely true. Political parties are living institutions, they evolve, realign, and renew themselves continuously.
The defections currently seen within the PDP may make headlines, but they do not define the party’s future. The timeline ahead allows more than enough space for reconciliation, leadership elections, and credible candidate primaries. The critical factor is whether the party leadership, and its members at all levels, can maintain discipline and commitment to due process.
*Conclusion*
The fear that the PDP will not appear on the ballot in 2027 is premature and legally unfounded. The party undoubtedly faces internal turmoil, but the window for recovery remains wide open. If the PDP conducts its national convention by early 2026 and resolves its leadership questions in time to meet INEC’s submission deadline in August 2026, it will have no obstacle to full participation in the 2027 elections.
The real challenge before the PDP is not the calendar, it is cohesion. The party’s success or failure will depend on how quickly it can transform internal competition into consensus. History shows that the PDP has done this before. If it can do so again, it will not only be on the ballot in 2027, it will be competitive.
-Datong, Dominic Gwaman
Conflict Security and Development Expert/Leadership Professional
dgdatong@gmail.com
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