When your political party's roster of state governors shrinks from a controlling force to a book club of two, you might expect some concern. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, however, would like you to know that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are 'not worried' about the party’s shrinking number of governors. This sunny outlook follows the resignation of Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara State, from the party, leaving Makinde and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State as the PDP's only remaining governors in Nigeria.
A Masterclass in Political Spin
Makinde's statement is a masterclass in political spin, attempting to reframe a catastrophic organizational failure as a moral victory. He declared, 'When the story of this period is told, they will find us on the side of the people.' It's a noble sentiment, though one might wonder how effectively one can serve 'the people' from the political sidelines, with influence over just two of Nigeria's 36 states. The governor's comments suggest the PDP's strategy is now less about winning elections and more about winning the history books.
The Hollowing Out of a Former Giant
The departure of Dauda Lawal is the latest in a series of defections that have hollowed out what was once Nigeria's dominant political party. Lawal's exit from the PDP leaves a significant power vacuum in Zamfara State and further consolidates the ruling party's grip at the state level. For the PDP, it transforms a national political structure into what is essentially a regional bloc, with its power now concentrated in the southwest and northeast.
Existential Questions for the PDP
This dramatic collapse raises immediate questions about the party's funding, its ability to field candidates in future elections, and its relevance in national discourse. A party with only two governors lacks the patronage networks and financial clout that come with controlling state treasuries and apparatuses. Makinde's insistence on a lack of worry, therefore, reads either as profound confidence or a deliberate misdirection from a grim reality.
The Road Ahead
Observers will be watching the PDP's next moves closely. The party's upcoming national convention will serve as a critical stress test. Without the financial engine of multiple state governments, the party must find new ways to mobilize resources and maintain a nationwide presence. Whether this marks a terminal decline or a dramatic reinvention remains Nigeria's most pressing political question.
