Some senior members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed strong disapproval over recent endorsements of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by two prominent party figures — Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.
Their open support for President Tinubu, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has sparked outrage among top PDP leaders, who argue that such actions threaten party unity and undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Governor Umo Eno, during the flag-off of a major federal road project — the 65-kilometre, three-lane dual carriageway in Nsit-Antai, Akwa Ibom State — publicly declared his support for Tinubu, citing the president’s commitment to completing the project.
“Let me end by assuring our people-loving President that we will stand by him. He deserves to complete his eight years in office,” Eno said. “He cannot start this work and abandon it. Someone else may not finish it with the same passion. Me, I’m supporting Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.”
On the other hand, Fayose dismissed PDP’s chances in the 2027 election, stating that the party should step aside and allow Tinubu to finish his term for the sake of political balance in the South. “It is better to allow Asiwaju (Tinubu) to complete his tenure because this is a southern slot. Everybody is fighting for their survival,” he said.
Reacting to the comments, PDP elder statesman and former Deputy National Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, described Eno’s endorsement as disappointing and dangerous.
“I don’t bother about whatever Fayose says or what he is doing, but I am very worried about the governor — a sitting governor of our party in Akwa Ibom,” George said.
He warned that Eno’s declaration, made without consultation with the party’s national leadership, was capable of weakening the PDP’s chances in the next election. “Taking that kind of decision without consultation with the national body of the party or with other stakeholders is undermining our party ahead of the 2027 election,” he added.
George called on the Akwa Ibom governor to reconsider his statement in the interest of party unity and political history. “It has never happened in Akwa Ibom. It was a wrong decision,” he said.
In a similar vein, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, criticised both Eno and Fayose, saying their endorsements were personal and did not reflect the official position of the PDP.
“Mr Eno is the governor of the state, but he is not in a position to decide the political direction of PDP members in the state,” Osadolor told *Sunday PUNCH*. “His endorsement of President Tinubu is personal to him and has nothing to do with our party.”
Osadolor dismissed Fayose’s statement as insignificant. “Nobody takes the former governor seriously anymore. He is at liberty to say whatever he likes because he owns his mouth, but the party is not bothered by the comments of Ayo Fayose.”
Wole Oke, a PDP member of the House of Representatives, joined the chorus of concern, warning that the party was in deep trouble if it failed to resolve its internal issues soon.
“The PDP is in big trouble, and it is gasping for breath,” Oke said. “With less than two years to the next election cycle, the party is still swimming from one crisis to another.”
He expressed concern that some party chieftains were already aligning with the APC, even before the PDP had started consultations or strategizing for the next election.
The internal rift in the PDP comes at a time when the party is still grappling with the aftermath of its loss in the 2023 presidential election. At the time, the PDP struggled with internal divisions, especially following the fallout from the presidential primaries, which led to key members forming the G5 — a group of aggrieved governors who worked against the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The latest endorsements from within the party are seen by many as signs of further disunity and lack of direction. Party insiders worry that unless the PDP rebuilds and unites quickly, its chances in 2027 may be greatly diminished.
Although there has been no official statement from the APC, analysts believe that such endorsements from PDP members may play into the ruling party’s hands, especially in the South, where regional loyalty and zoning considerations are expected to play a key role in the next elections.
Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, is yet to officially declare his intention to run again in 2027, but political observers believe the groundwork is being laid, and support from non-APC governors could significantly boost his chances if he decides to contest.
With visible cracks among its ranks, the PDP faces an uphill task in presenting itself as a credible opposition party. Analysts say that if internal disputes are not quickly resolved and members continue to break ranks, the PDP risks losing more ground to the APC in future elections.
Calls are now mounting for the party’s leadership to summon a high-level emergency meeting to address the unfolding crisis and rein in members whose actions may further damage the party’s unity.
