A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said that only a miracle can save the party from the leadership crisis rocking it.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, he described the crisis which peaked with suspension and counter-suspension of its national officers, as embarrassing and unnecessary.
He said: “The current situation in our party has made a mockery of suspension and counter-suspension, especially at that level of leadership.
“And sadly now, the current situation in the party has taken the party so low to the level of embarrassment that is most unnecessary.”
Noting that the current crisis in the main opposition party was a fallout of the party’s loss of the 2023 general election to the All Progressives Congress (APC), he said only a Divine intervention could hold the PDP together again as a strong political party that will challenge for the top political positions in the country.
He said: “The mismanagement and arrogance of a few today is haunting the party and they say when the head is sick the whole body is gone. So, it will need God’s intervention, it will need a miracle for this party to be put together again.”
Fayose said that the loss that the main opposition party suffered during the 2023 general elections was still haunting the party.
The former governor, who was responding to questions on the internal crisis within the party, claimed that aside from the loss suffered, the “arrogance of a few (party chieftains)” also contributed to the party’s discord.
He said, “The elections have come and gone. And because the party suffered a loss, I believe the consequences of that loss are haunting the party. The mismanagement and arrogance of a few are also haunting the party.
“And they say when the head is sick, the whole body is affected. So, it would take God’s intervention or a miracle for this party to be brought together again.
“Because when you hear of suspension on the left and counter-suspension on the right, at that level, a lot has happened, and a lot needs to be addressed.”
When asked how the party can emerge from its current disarray, Fayose explained that all major players must close ranks and learn from past mistakes to move forward.
“The challenges are enormous, and everybody must start reflecting because if you don’t put the past behind you, you won’t have a future. So, we are still being naturally haunted by our past,” he said.
The main opposition party has been plagued by internal strife, with no signs of the PDP crisis abating soon. Fayose had remarked on Friday that the ongoing drama within the embattled party was becoming increasingly intriguing.
Fayose’s comment came hours after a faction of the PDP National Working Committee suspended the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, for alleged disloyalty to the party.
Earlier, a faction of the NWC aligned with Damagum announced the suspension of the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, also for alleged disloyalty to the party.
In a new twist, Ologunagba subsequently announced the suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu.
On Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja barred the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) from removing Umar Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of the party, a ruling Fayose said has tied the hands of everyone in the party.
Asked whether Damagum should step aside, Fayose said whatever his suggestion is at the moment won’t matter because a court of law has taken a decision on the matter.
Furthermore, the ex-governor also debunked reports that he had declared interest in becoming the national chairman of the PDP, saying that the position is too hot for his age now.
He said he does not want to seek for any position in the party either now or in the nearest future.
According to him, “There was a write-up going around yesterday that I have declared for national chairman. That is an irresponsible statement that is not from me and will never be from me.
“I don’t even want to be anything in the party anymore, I don’t even want appointment of any sort. I never said I have declared for national chairman of the party – God forbid, that seat is too hot for my age now. I don’t want such and I will never aspire for such.”
Also, he made this known via his handle on X.com on Saturday while reacting to a media report published by an online news platform that he is now the PDP chairman.
The former governor stated that stories that did not clearly state his name should be disregarded and treated as stories from any of the many other Fayose in the country.
The post reads, “I dissociate myself from media reports linking me with any self-declaration as Chairman of the PDP and suspension of the likes of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Wike, Makinde, etc from the party.
In the post, Fayose said, “As of today, Ambassador Umar Damagum is the Chairman of the PDP, and I’m not aspiring to be Chairman of the party.
“It is also important for the public to note that I’m not the only Fayose in Nigeria; there are many others. I am Peter Ayodele Fayose. As such, stories not clearly stating my name should be disregarded and treated as stories from any of the many other Fayose’s in Nigeria.
“The public should, therefore, endeavour to read the content of news stories, not just the headlines.”
He stated that he is not interested in any political office, adding that he is not part of the ongoing crisis rocking the major opposition party.
“Most importantly, I’m not part of the drama in the party and will never be. I am also not interested in any political office, either appointed or elective,” he added.
