PDP Crisis: Internal Political Actors to Blame, Not Outside Factors, Says Abba Morro

Abba Morro, the Senate Minority Leader, has ascribed Nigeria's political parties' continuous turmoil to particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the actions of political actors, stating that internal dynamics, not external institutions, are primarily responsible for the instability.

In an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Morro addressed concerns surrounding the PDP’s preparedness for the 2027 elections, the causes of internal divisions, and the role of institutions such as INEC, the judiciary, and rival political parties. He maintained that the responsibility lies largely with party stakeholders, including governors, legislators, and leaders.

“I want to say straight away that I think that the political actors are primarily responsible for what is going on,” he said. “Because if you look at the crisis, the apparent crisis in the political parties, it is generated and aggravated by the political actors.”

"The governors, the legislators, the leaders of the party... are responsible primarily for what is going on," Morro said in response to a question, On the question of factional divisions within the PDP, Morro dismissed claims of multiple power blocs, insisting, “Well, there is only one pdp. There are no two.”

He also reflected on the party’s past internal decisions, particularly the controversial Ibadan convention, which he said worsened the crisis. According to him, the event was held despite a subsisting court order and warnings from party stakeholders.

"Look, the convention in Ibadan was held against a court order not to hold, so it was null and void and the outcome was also nullified," he said, citing the appellate court's ruling. Morro explained that tensions between key figures, including Governor Nyesom Wike and Governor Seyi Makinde, contributed to the situation, making the choice of Ibadan as the venue contentious.

Despite the challenges, the Senate Minority Leader maintained that the PDP remains functional, noting that a more recent convention, recognized by INEC, has produced a legitimate leadership. “With the holding of the recent convention which was witnessed by INEC, which no legal authority has challenged, we have a leadership in the party,” he said. On the issue of public confidence, Morro rejected claims that party members are hesitant, stating that internal mobilisation efforts are ongoing.

"You claim that people are hesitant, but I'm not." There are senators who don't hesitate at all...We are together moving forward preparing for the election,” he said, though he acknowledged that the party may not retain the same level of influence it previously held. Addressing calls for political reconciliation, Morro confirmed that efforts have been made but were not fully implemented, contributing to the current state of the party.

He also commented on demands by some political actors for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, describing such calls as misplaced. He asked, "I don't think that is the ultimate... assuming without conceding that the INEC chairman resigns today. Who is going to midwife the 2027 election?" 

Morro further criticised what he described as rising political tensions fueled by protests, noting that such actions do not necessarily resolve underlying issues within parties.

He continued, “I don’t also believe in the constant releasing of the political temperature of this country by this constant protest,” 

In closing, he reaffirmed the need for political actors to exercise internal discipline and accountability in order to find long-term solutions to party crises rather than depending on outside interventions.