A United Kingdom-based human rights lawyer and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Niyi Aborisade, has warned that the party’s delayed expulsion of key members has intensified its internal crisis and endangered its prospects in upcoming elections.
Aborisade said the PDP should have taken decisive action long before now, rather than waiting until the eve of an election.
In a statement, he noted that the delay has pushed the party into an avoidable state of uncertainty.
“PDP acted late to expel those who should have been expelled long ago. This should have been settled a long time ago and not on the eve of the election,” he said.
According to him, unresolved court cases continue to cast doubt on the party’s stability and cohesion ahead of the next polls.
“There are still court cases to which no one can predict the outcome. The party will definitely rise again after this shadow, but our fate is now uncertain in the next election unless we can resolve the matter amicably,” he added.
Aborisade also described the defection of Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as a troubling sign of the dangers confronting the party.
“A sitting governor has left us. He sees the danger ahead and does the wise thing. How many are yet to leave? Some are just barely clinging to the fabric that holds the party together,” he said.
He noted that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, now carries the responsibility of leading a swift healing process within the PDP, describing the task as “herculean.”
Aborisade urged Makinde to seize the moment by leveraging what he called the looming challenges within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rebuild and strengthen the party.
“There is little time to rectify the situation, and we must act fast. Hope is fast fading, and act fast we must,” he warned.
He stressed that urgent reconciliation remains the only way to prevent further haemorrhage within the party.
