From all indications, the events that once threatened to tear the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart during the Ali Modu Sheriff era are gradually but steadily repeating themselves, as the umbrella party now struggles for survival at both the state and national levels.
In 2016, the PDP survived a severe internal crisis triggered by its former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who emerged as Chairman of the Caretaker Committee following the resignation of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu after the party’s defeat in the 2015 presidential election.
What deeply unsettled party members and observers alike were Sheriff’s actions during the crisis. He raised several contentious issues against the Senator Ahmed Makarfi–led National Caretaker Committee, which was appointed at the PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt following the dissolution of the National Working Committee headed by Sheriff.
Acting against the interest of the party, Sheriff and his group approached a Lagos court and secured an order restraining the PDP from conducting elections into the offices of National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Auditor at the Port Harcourt convention. In response, the PDP’s national leadership obtained a counter-order from a Port Harcourt court restraining Sheriff from parading himself as National Chairman.
When it became clear that he was losing ground in the legal battle, Sheriff led his supporters to forcibly take over the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja and declared himself Chairman. The Makarfi faction resisted, and only the intervention of security agencies prevented what could have escalated into a bloody confrontation.
Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic National Chairman of the PDP.
However, before that landmark judgment, the once-ruling party had lost much of its strength, influence, and national appeal—handing the All Progressives Congress (APC) a golden opportunity to consolidate power. The internal assault on the PDP cost the party several governorship and National Assembly seats.
Sadly, what Sheriff and his associates did to the PDP in 2016 is now being replicated a decade later by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, popularly known as Samdaddy, and his loyalists.
Just as Sheriff weaponized the courts to destabilize the party, Samdaddy is following the same path. And just as Sheriff forcefully and unlawfully attempted to seize control of the PDP, Samdaddy and his cohorts recently engaged in similar actions.
There is, however, one significant difference: Sheriff was confronted, and Samdaddy has been repelled.
Most importantly, the Supreme Court ultimately recognized Senator Ahmed Makarfi as PDP National Chairman, effectively ending Sheriff’s political adventure within the party. Drawing from this documented history, it is only a matter of time before courts of competent jurisdiction affirm Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as the authentic National Chairman of the PDP.
The implication is clear: Samdaddy and his fan club should be disregarded. By his actions, he has contributed significantly to the crisis that has brought the PDP—both nationally and at the state level—to its knees. His conduct on the national stage has demonstrated a lack of character and integrity, revealing a willingness to sacrifice everything, including loyal supporters, on the altar of self-enrichment.
Indeed, members of his inner circle should reflect on why some of his former allies recently withdrew in disappointment—allegedly broken by deception and betrayal driven by personal ambition.
Consequently, my advice to PDP members nationwide is to emulate the wisdom of the five wise virgins as recorded in the Bible: identify with, mobilize, and rally behind the Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN)–led national leadership of the party. Failure to do so may result in the same regret suffered by the five foolish virgins who failed to prepare for their moment of opportunity and uplift.
