Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.

Olayinka's statement comes amid an intensifying leadership crisis within the party, specifically regarding the position of National Secretary, which has been contested between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye.

"Like I said four months ago, PDP may not field any candidate now, 2026 and 2027," Olayinka stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The National Secretary Dispute

The controversy began when Samuel Anyanwu temporarily vacated his position as National Secretary to contest for the governorship of Imo State in 2023. During his absence, the Southeast caucus of the party endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye as his replacement.

Following his defeat in the gubernatorial race, Anyanwu returned to reclaim his position, prompting Ude-Okoye to seek legal redress. While a High Court initially ruled against Anyanwu, a subsequent Supreme Court judgment in March has reportedly complicated the situation further.

Olayinka, speaking in support of Anyanwu, argued that the PDP constitution is clear on the matter: "The party constitution and the Supreme Court judgment should be clear enough as to who the National Secretary is, and the Deputy National Secretary can only act as Secretary in the event of resignation or death of the National Secretary."

He emphasized that since "Senator Samuel Anyanwu has not resigned" and "is not dead," he remains the rightful National Secretary of the party.

The FCT Minister's aide also criticized attempts to have party workers endorse someone for the position, stating: "The only reason you will need party workers to endorse someone as National Secretary of the PDP is because you know that you are doing the wrong thing."

Implications for PDP's Future

This internal crisis comes at a critical time for Nigeria's main opposition party, which has been struggling to maintain unity since its defeat in the 2023 presidential election. Political analysts suggest that if the leadership tussle remains unresolved, it could significantly impact the party's preparations for future elections.

Olayinka's prediction that the PDP may not field candidates in upcoming elections, including the 2027 presidential race, highlights the severity of the situation and raises questions about the party's ability to function effectively as Nigeria's main opposition force.

As the crisis continues to unfold, stakeholders within and outside the party will be watching closely to see if the PDP can resolve its internal differences and present a united front ahead of the next electoral cycle.