Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has criticised the recent decision by governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reject merger talks with other political groups, describing it as premature and out of touch with the political reality facing the party.
Speaking on ARISE NEWS television programme , The Morning Show on Tuesday in Jos, Suswam said that the move lacks proper consultation and fails to address the underlying discontent within the party’s ranks.
The PDP Governors had during their last meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, firmly dismissed the idea of any merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.
But the governors noted that the party remains open to welcoming individuals or groups willing to join its ranks.
Suswam, a former senator, has disagreed with the outright rejection, arguing that such talks should not be viewed as a concession of defeat, but rather as a strategic opportunity to address the party’s dwindling influence.
According to Suswam, the PDP remains Nigeria’s only true legacy party but is currently in crisis due to unresolved internal issues, including manipulated state congresses and postponed NEC meetings.
He said, “The PDP remains the only true legacy party in Nigeria. Ordinarily, the resolution by the PDP governors should have resonated with many party loyalists. But as things stand, I don’t believe the rejection of merger talks should be seen as an absolute stance. People have started to realise that PDP needs fixing and there’s a lot that needs to be fixed.
“Expectations from PDP stakeholders were that the governors would have taken decisive steps much earlier. Unfortunately, selfish interests across the party prevented that. So, for them to come out now and sound so definitive in rejecting merger discussions appears disconnected from the current political realities. Merger talks don’t necessarily mean an actual merger will happen but given the circumstances, rejecting such talks outright is premature.
“If I had been part of that resolution, I would’ve advised against it. There’s been no proper consultation with stakeholders. People have been waiting, hoping for reforms. PDP has unresolved internal issues, state congresses were either not held or manipulated, and those injustices were never addressed. So, many have become disillusioned and mentally checked out of the PDP”.
The former governor attributed this disillusionment to the failure of party leadership to act decisively in times of crisis. He insisted that if the PDP had been properly managed, the issue of seeking alternatives or engaging in merger talks would not arise.
On the broader challenges facing the PDP, Suswam identified two critical factors: the need for credible leadership and an inspiring presidential candidate.
He stressed that the leadership at the national level must be transparent and trustworthy, while the candidate for 2027 must emerge based on merit and public appeal, not money or imposition.
Responding humorously to a question on who currently holds the position of National Secretary of the PDP, Suswam said, “Ask the Supreme Court,” pointing to the legal confusion surrounding the position.
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