Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has raised alarm over the declining public trust in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing it to internal divisions and a failure of leadership.
Appearing on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, Suswam voiced concerns that the party is rapidly losing relevance as key stakeholders and supporters disengage due to unresolved issues.
“There are many fundamental problems in the PDP that remain unaddressed. A lot of people, including key stakeholders, have mentally checked out of the party because of leadership failure,” he said.
The former senator stressed that for the PDP to stand a chance in the 2027 presidential elections, it must urgently address its leadership crisis and present a credible, widely accepted candidate.
“To improve PDP’s chances in 2027, two things are essential: transparent leadership and a credible candidate. People have completely lost confidence in the PDP. Leadership is key, and the candidate must be someone with genuine interest, not just ambition,” Suswam added.
He also criticized the party’s history of awarding its presidential ticket to the highest bidder, arguing that this practice undermines its wide-reaching national presence.
Suswam’s remarks come at a time of growing discord within the PDP, particularly after the PDP Governors’ Forum rejected calls to form a coalition or merger with other opposition parties ahead of 2027.
The governors’ position diverges sharply from that of former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who has been pushing for a united opposition.
In a communique issued after a meeting in Ibadan on Monday, April 14, the governors firmly stated that the PDP would not merge or align with any other political groups.
The internal rift deepened as PDP Board of Trustees member, Chief Bode George, openly opposed Atiku’s potential candidacy, warning that another run by the former vice president could be disastrous for the party.
Atiku, a two-time PDP presidential candidate and veteran contender for the presidency, now faces increasing resistance from within his own party as the PDP struggles to define its path forward.
