Fayose Declares PDP “Dead”, Foresees More Governors Jumping Ship

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “dead” and predicted further defections from the party’s ranks. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Fayose exonerated President Bola Tinubu from influencing the departures of opposition governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting the party’s crisis is self-inflicted.

According to the former governor, the exits of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah were driven by personal political ambitions rather than presidential pressure.

“President Tinubu should not be blamed for PDP’s problems. The party is sick, and no cure is in sight. Those who killed the party know themselves,” Fayose said, emphasizing the difference between former and sitting governors.

Fayose, who remains a card-carrying PDP member, revealed that at least three more governors are preparing to leave the party, leaving it with only five. He warned that internal divisions among the remaining governors could further weaken the party.

“Let me tell you, there are three more governors that will leave soon. There will be five remaining. Among them, one will struggle to get a ticket, and they all know the ticket is like an ordinary tissue paper,” he said.

The former governor blamed PDP’s decline on internal power struggles and leaders’ prioritisation of personal control over party unity. “They are largely killing the party because they want to control it. This is what happened in 2023,” he added.

Fayose’s remarks come amid growing speculation of a mass exodus from the PDP, as the party continues to grapple with its identity following the defeat in the 2023 general elections.