A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Dan Ulasi, has raised the alarm over the deepening crisis within the opposition party, warning that the escalating internal feud poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, Ulasi, a founding member of the PDP, expressed deep emotional concern over what he described as the party’s descent into chaos, bemoaning the loss of “civility and loyalty” that once defined its leadership.
He said, “I feel very touched when PDP is being discussed because about 1998, I was standing right behind the late Dr Alex Ekwueme, with two other people on our side and Atiku Abubakar on the other side, as we signed the formation of this party called PDP.
“I feel very emotional, even more now that the skirmishes have blown out of control.”
Ulasi did not hold back in his assessment of the current state of the party, lamenting that paranoia and hatred have replaced rational dialogue and that internal disputes have reached unprecedented levels.
“Democracy depends on heavy doses of civility. And it does appear that civility has been lost, not just in PDP, but all over this country. Nobody believes what the other is saying,” he said.
He also referenced recent court rulings and internal wrangling, stressing that the leadership of Abdurrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains valid, despite competing claims.
He said, “As of now, there’s only one PDP led by Alhaja Abdurrahman Mohammed as national chairman and Senator Sam Ayo as national secretary.
“Unfortunately, this crisis is disheartening, especially when young governors resort to calling colleagues vagabonds; it is uncalled for, very unfortunate language.”
Ulasi also took a swipe at former PDP governors who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing them as opportunists who prioritised personal gain over party loyalty.
“Virtually all PDP governors have gone into APC, even when there was no division. These are people who have benefited from the PDP as governors, senators, and in other positions, yet they make decisions based on convenience rather than values,” he said.
He criticised the influence of money in determining political clout, warning that the monetisation of political loyalty was eroding the ideals the party once stood for.
Ulasi joked, “If you give me two billion naira, I will give President Tinubu a run for his life that he will not forget.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have the kind of money people move around in this country for public service.”
On broader governance issues, the elder statesman expressed frustration with the lack of basic public services, blaming both leadership and institutional failures.
He added, “Water is not running anywhere. Governors move 40 vehicles to attend functions in their own cities.
“The problem is fundamental; Nigeria is not just PDP, it is both genotypically and phenotypically specific. When the problem is genetic and environmental, we have a serious crisis.”
‘We Must Build Opposition To Challenge APC In 2027’
Despite his criticism, Ulasi offered cautious optimism about PDP’s future, encouraging younger politicians to “take up the mantle of leadership” and revamp the party’s image before the 2027 elections.
“I am encouraging young men to come up and do something better for this country. We must have an effective opposition to give President Ndubu a run for his money,” he said.
Interestingly, Ulasi reserved praise for the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, citing notable improvements in Abuja’s infrastructure under his watch.
He noted, “Compare 80 years of whoever was there before with the two and a half years we have had Wike as minister, you will see significant progress.
“He has made manifest progress in infrastructure development in the Federal Capital Territory.”
Ulasi called on the PDP to urgently rebuild, reconcile, and return to its democratic roots, or risk becoming politically irrelevant by the next general elections.
“Until things normalise and we know who is left in the party, it would be difficult to say if PDP can give APC a fight in 2027. But we must be prepared,” he said.
