Former Benue State Governor and Senator Gabriel Suswam has raised alarm over the declining fortunes of the Peoples Democratic Party, warning that the opposition party risks total collapse before the 2027 general elections if urgent steps are not taken to resolve its internal crises.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Tuesday, Suswam likened the PDP’s current state to a patient in intensive care, stating that only decisive action could save it from extinction.
“A lot of people are hanging on, waiting to see the ultimate end of this party. Whether there is light at the end of the tunnel in the efforts made by Senator Saraki, that will be seen in the next two weeks. For now, I would say that PDP, is it in the hospital? Yes. Is it in ICU to some extent? Yes, it is. Can it be rescued? Yes, if the proper medicine is applied,” Suswam declared.
The former governor emphasized that the party is grappling with multiple crises, including the unresolved dispute over its national secretary position and the escalating feud between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. These conflicts, he noted, have left many party members disillusioned and uncertain about the PDP’s future.
Suswam acknowledged the recent intervention by PDP governors and former governors, led by ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, as a potential lifeline for the party. However, he cautioned that the success of these reconciliation efforts remains uncertain. “If the Saraki-led effort fails, the PDP might cease to exist,” he warned, adding that the party’s survival chances currently stand at “50–50.”
The PDP, once Nigeria’s dominant political force, has struggled to regain its footing since losing power at the federal level in 2015. The party’s internal divisions have worsened in recent months, with key figures publicly feuding and some members defecting to other parties.
