The Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced & Professional Studies, Prof. Anthony Kila, has condemned the recent clashes within the Peoples Democratic Party, arguing that the episode exposes longstanding structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s political system.
Speaking on Wednesday, Kila said the conduct of party leaders during parallel meetings at the PDP’s Wadata Plaza headquarters demonstrated a disregard for democratic practice and internal party discipline. He described the scene as “a show of shame,” noting that while disagreements within parties may sometimes be legitimate, the manner in which they were expressed reflected deeper flaws among the political elite.
According to him, the use of police officers as instruments of intimidation, alongside shouting matches, physical confrontation, and mass expulsions, showed that many party actors were driven more by power struggles than shared ideological commitments. Kila also criticised the absence of professional structures within political parties, suggesting, albeit pointedly, that each party should consider appointing a “lead house psychiatrist” to manage internal tensions.
He stressed that the issues on display were not exclusive to the PDP. “This today is the PDP. It could be anybody tomorrow. Most political parties in Nigeria share these uncivilised, unbecoming, uninspiring traits. We need to look at it as a system problem, not just a PDP problem,” he said.
The turmoil followed parallel appearances by factional National Chairman Kabiru Turaki and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who arrived separately for NEC and BoT meetings, triggering a confrontation that required significant security presence. The tensions were further inflamed by last Saturday’s convention in Ibadan, where Wike, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Kamaldeen Ajibade, former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose, and Austin Nwachukwu were expelled for alleged anti-party activities.
In response, the Wike-led faction expelled Bode George, former BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, and Turaki, escalating the crisis even further.
Kila emphasised that the health of the country’s democracy depends on having stable and credible opposition parties. “Those who respect institutions, love democracy, and understand what civility and civic sense are must have an interest in having a vibrant, stable, and viable opposition,” he said.
Reacting to Minister Wike’s call for the PDP to endorse an APC president, Kila said the idea itself was not problematic, but the process must follow democratic norms. “It is legitimate for Minister Wike to say he wants his party to support an APC president. But the way to go about it is to have a proper conversation on the table. If the party agrees, then they support him. If they disagree, that becomes a minority report,” he said.
