Umbrella in Tatters: PDP’s Long Descent From Dominance to Four States
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once Nigeria’s most powerful political platform, has suffered a dramatic decline, shrinking to control just four states by the end of 2025—Adamawa, Bauchi, Oyo and zamfara after years of electoral losses, defections and internal crises.
The development marks a sharp contrast to the party’s commanding position at the dawn of the Fourth Republic in 1999, when it emerged as the dominant force in Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, winning the presidency and controlling 22 of the country’s 36 states.
Nigeria’s political evolution since independence in 1960 has been shaped by alternating periods of civilian governance and military rule.
After decades of coups, counter-coups and a civil war, the country transitioned to democracy in 1999 following the death of military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, in 1998. That transition elevated the PDP to national prominence.
Formed in 1998, the PDP quickly positioned itself as a broad-based, national party capable of uniting Nigeria’s diverse regions.
Under leaders such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the late Dr Alex Ekwueme and other founding figures, the party dominated national politics for 16 consecutive years.
During that period, the PDP produced presidents, governors and legislative majorities, while opposition parties such as the Alliance for Democracy and the All Nigeria Peoples Party were largely regionally confined.
However, cracks in the party’s dominance began to appear due to internal disagreements over leadership, zoning arrangements and control of party structures.
These divisions deepened ahead of the 2015 general elections, leading to high-profile defections and the emergence of a unified opposition.
The formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 proved decisive. In 2015, the PDP lost the presidency for the first time, ending its long hold on power at the centre. The defeat triggered prolonged leadership crises, court battles and factional disputes that weakened the party’s organisational strength.
Subsequent election cycles further reduced the PDP’s influence, as it lost several governorships and legislative seats. Defections by sitting governors and lawmakers, coupled with disputes over primaries and candidate selection, continued to undermine party cohesion.
By the end of 2025, the party’s control had dwindled to four states, raising questions about its future as a national political force.
Political observers say the PDP’s decline reflects both internal failures and broader changes in Nigeria’s political landscape, including shifting voter expectations and the consolidation of opposition platforms.
With future elections approaching, analysts note that the PDP faces an urgent challenge to reform its internal structures, rebuild public trust and redefine its political identity if it hopes to reclaim relevance on the national stage.
Once the dominant “oak tree” of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, the PDP now confronts what many describe as an existential test whether it can rebuild and expand its reach or remain a diminished presence in the country’s competitive political arena.
