Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, has pronounced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as effectively defunct and beyond recovery, forecasting an imminent surge in defections from the beleaguered opposition party.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Wednesday evening, Fayose attributed the party’s downfall to internal failings rather than external interference from President Bola Tinubu, countering claims made by some PDP members.
“The challenges facing the PDP are self-inflicted; President Tinubu is not responsible for the party’s ailments,” Fayose asserted. “The PDP is chronically ill, with no remedy in sight.”
He further emphasized, “Those who undermined the party are well known to themselves. There is a clear distinction between a former governor and one currently in office.”
Addressing rumors that the presidency orchestrated the recent defections of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Fayose dismissed such claims, insisting their decisions were driven solely by individual political interests.
Although still a PDP cardholder, Fayose disclosed that three additional governors are poised to abandon the party soon, which would leave only five governors remaining within the PDP.
“I can confirm that three more governors will exit shortly. That will leave five behind, and among them, only one will vie for the ticket, which they all regard as worthless,” he remarked.
Fayose attributed the PDP’s ongoing deterioration to internal power struggles and personal rivalries among its leadership, which have eroded the solidarity that once established the party as a formidable political entity.
“The party is being destroyed from within by those eager to dominate it. This was evident in the 2023 elections,” he added.
Despite his status as a founding member, Fayose declared his unwillingness to participate in any attempts to resuscitate the PDP, noting that the party’s decay began long before the recent upheavals.
