The future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East region continues to look bleak as former PDP heavyweights in the region are turning full circle to endorse the All Progressives Congress candidate for 2027.
Yesterday, former governor of a formerly strong PDP state, Ex-Governor Sullivan Chime, officially endorsed President Tinubu for reelection in 2027, signalling a total capitulation of PDP’s former structure in the state.
Chime officially endorsed Tinubu in Udi during the flag-off of the APC e-registration exercise in Enugu West Senatorial District on Tuesday.
“I am part of the South East. So, you can take it for granted that I was part of that endorsement. That is our decision, and we all stand by it. It is easily achievable.
“The President has done well. I believe he has done well. Whatever is happening in Nigeria is global and certainly in Africa. It is all over the place. He is doing well, given the circumstances,” he stated.
Chime explained that critics of the APC and naysayers will eat their words soon, as he is convinced that Enugu State is making the right decision by turning APC and aligning itself with the centre.
PDP’s Shrinking Political Base in the South East
Enugu state has remained a PDP stronghold since the start of Nigeria’s fourth republic in 1999. The party has produced the last four governors of the state: Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Peter Mbah.
The PDP’s over 25-year stronghold came to an historic end when a sitting Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah, defected to the APC last year. Mbah took the entire PDP structure with him to the APC, including former Labour Party members in the state.
This is a very disturbing development for presidential hopeful Peter Obi, who got 93.9% (428,640) of the votes in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party. Despite south-easterners being known to vote personality over party.
The Obi camp will have to battle with an APC machinery galvanized by three sitting governors in the South East region. This is a tough ask for any politician, even for Peter Obi.
Why This Matters
- The Southeast is supposed to be Peter Obi’s core political base, and Enugu is one of the region’s crown jewels. The total capitulation of the PDP structure in Enugu State makes it easy for the ruling APC to galvanize support and votes.
- Peter Obi’s chances of securing the Presidential ticket under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) depend on his probability of winning the election. This probability keeps shrinking with each major move the APC makes in the Southeast.
