The general election in Nigeria in 2023 brought about a big political upset, notably in the North Central region, as a large number of political heavyweights were swept out by a tsunami of change. This was particularly the case in the North Central region.
Advertisements
The People’s Democratic Party, or PDP, was the regional party that was hit the hardest by the results of the election. All of the incumbent senators from the PDP’s senatorial caucus lost their bids for re-election, with the exception of Abba Moro, who is representing Benue South.
There are a total of 19 senators hailing from the North Central area of Nigeria, which is comprised of the states of Kogi, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, and Niger, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This region has a substantial number of Senate seats.
Advertisements
Prior to the elections in 2023, the Senate representation from the area stood with the All Progressives Congress, also known as the APC, holding the majority in many states, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) maintaining its foothold in others.
In the North Central region, the following senators held the following seats prior to the elections in 2023: Niger: APC – 3; Kogi: APC – 3; Plateau: APC – 2, PDP – 1; Kwara: APC – 3; Nasarawa: APC – 3; Benue: PDP – 3 and FCT: PDP – 1.
Advertisements
On the other hand, following the election in 2023, there was a substantial shift that occurred in the political scene of the North Central region. With the exception of Abba Moro, all of the incumbent senators running under the PDP banner lost their efforts to be re-elected.
As a direct consequence of this, the following individuals will serve as the region’s representatives in the Senate for the 10th Assembly: Benue: PDP – 1, APC – 2; Kogi: APC – 3; Nasarawa: SDP – 2, PDP – 1; Plateau: PDP – 2, APC – 1; FCT: Labour Party – 1; Kwara: APC – 3; Niger: APC – 2, PDP – 1.
As a result of these recent shifts in membership, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is now in the minority within the North Central region’s Senate representation for the 10th Assembly. With 11 senators, the APC enjoys a majority in the Senate, while the PDP only has five senators. Both the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have one senator each. The SDP has two senators.
It’s interesting to note that since its establishment in 1998, North Central has been responsible for producing six out of the total of 14 PDP chairmen.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has a diminished presence in the North Central region’s Senate representation, which raises doubts about the party’s future strategy and its capacity to successfully influence legislative decisions in the region. This ability is in question because of the PDP’s diminished participation. In order for the party to regain prominence in the elections that are to come, it will be essential for the party to reorganize and restore its base of support.
Edwin Onuh, a senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Benue State, expressed deep concern over the decreasing fortunes of the party not just in the North Central region but also across Nigeria as a whole in an interview with DAILY POST. Onuh was speaking about the party’s fortunes not only in Nigeria but also in the North Central region.
Onuh stated that the outcome of the general election in 2023 would serve as a precursor to the demise of the PDP in the country.
He emphasized the conventional notion that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and he stressed the urgent necessity for the party to regroup and strategize if it hopes to survive. He also emphasized the importance of the metaphorical notion that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
According to Onuh, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is currently in a vegetative state and requires emergency medical attention, just like a patient in the political equivalent of an intensive care unit.
He emphasized how important it was to solve the party’s internal problems before the organization completely collapsed under its own weight.
He stated that, “Like they say, a house divided against itself cannot stand,” and he was referring to the proverb.
“It is a sign that things are not going to go well for us, and I believe that we need to go back to the drawing board and put our house in order if we want this party to continue.
According to all available evidence, the People’s Democratic Party is currently in a coma. The party is currently in the political equivalent of a critical care hospital, and it need immediate attention before it passes away for good.
Another member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), named Sunday Okechuku from Karu Ward, echoed the thoughts expressed by Onuh by stating that the party’s electoral losses in Abuja during the most recent election were caused by what he referred to as the “Peter Obi – ‘Obidients’ tsunami” that swept across the country.
He stated, “You can’t blame anybody because it was obvious that the electorate, particularly the youths, were tired of the old parties and politicians. You can’t blame anybody.”
“Just as it was in Abuja, I am certain that the majority of the people who voted for the Labour Party candidate, Ireti kingibe, didn’t even know who she was. She did not run a campaign, but she still won. This is to demonstrate to you that she was carried to victory by Peter Obi.
“In my opinion, I do not believe that all hope is lost. But there is a great deal of work ahead of us. It is unfortunate that the party that was once the largest in Africa is now competing with the Labour Party to be the primary opposition party.
He advocated for the immediate necessity of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) addressing its internal problems and reevaluating its strategy in order to halt its precipitous decline in popularity.
In addition, he emphasized that failing to do so may result in additional electoral losses and might even mean the end of the party’s presence in Nigeria’s political landscape.
In order to obtain favorable results for the North Central area during the 10th Assembly, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will need to demonstrate the capacity for strategic planning, strong leadership, and the ability to collaborate across party lines.
It is currently unknown how the party intends to overcome these obstacles and reestablish its political power in the area over the course of the next few years.: