The Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria's former ruling party, has witnessed a drastic decline in its fortunes. The party, which once dominated the country's political landscape, having won 20 out of 36 states in 1999 and ruling for 16 years, now controls only two states. This significant drop in influence can be attributed to a series of crises that have plagued the party in recent years, leading to mass defections to other parties.
The party's dominance began to wane after the 2015 general elections, where it lost its majority to the All Progressives Congress and other opposition parties. Prior to the elections, several PDP governors had defected to the APC in 2013 and 2014. The party's fortunes continued to decline, with it winning only 10 governorships in the 2023 general elections. As of early 2026, the PDP still has two governors, Senator Bala Muhammed and Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde.
The PDP's decline is a stark reminder of the party's failure to adapt to changing political realities in Nigeria. The loss of 26 states to opposition parties and other groups is a testament to the party's inability to retain its grip on power. The defection of several high-profile governors to the APC in 2013 and 2014 was a significant blow to the party, and its inability to recover from this setback has left it with a mere two governors today. This decline has significant implications for the party's relevance and influence in Nigerian politics, and it remains to be seen whether the party can stage a comeback in the future. The fact that the party's only two remaining governors are Senator Bala Muhammed and Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde raises questions about the party's ability to regroup and regain its former glory.
