BY  2019 PDP would have governed Delta state for 20 unbroken years! This is a long time in power by a political party. Delta state is not the only state in this category.  Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa state, Ebonyi, and Cross River states have this special record. By this token Delta state PDP with its long rule furnished all the governors, majority of the legislators, both federal and state and it has controlled majority of the local government councils.

The first governor who led the PDP to power in 1999, Chief James Ibori has remained both the political and spiritual leader of the ruling party, despite leaving office in 2007, his many travails including being incarcerated notwithstanding.  For a party that has retained power this long, there must be a reason it has remained this entrenched. It might be because, the Delta state PDP has offered wonderful stewardship to the people of the state that Deltans see no need to change the party and frequently rewards the PDP with loyalty. It can also mean that the PDP has mastered the act of political maneuver so  successfully that the people are unmindful of what the PDP does.

Or it can be that PDP projects an image of strength and cohesion that those who wished to end its seeming stranglehold in the politics of Delta state have not been able to do so successfully over time. The way it is, one factor alone cannot explain it all. It is a bit of one factor combining with one other factor making it possible for the party to survive in power this long despite the many challenges it faced, many of which are self-inflicted.

In appraising Delta PDP, one thing stands out: the ruling party understands the core essence of politics—capturing and retaining power. The leaders of the party know that the only game in town is the act of holding onto power. They know that without power, you are not in the game. They know that politics in Nigeria is a zero-sum game. Those who have it, have it. Those who don’t have it don’t have it. It is as simple as that.  You either have it or you don’t. In Delta PDP having and retaining power has become a habit, an act form with many of its ugliness, yet neutral observers might say Delta PDP’s turbulent history and performance should not have allowed it to remain in power for this long.

Going back in time, there are those who argue that by 2003 there were real threats to PDP retaining power. There were strong discontentment within the party and popular support for the PDP was fading. Its record as a governing party in office was mixed. Although Governor Ibori was reelected, even he was said to be dissatisfied with the situation of things. PDP it appears was becoming a victim of its size and its political success.

What was the problem? There were foundational issues that were never entirely resolved. Then some top chieftains of the PDP were not good ambassadors of the party. And then there was the question of accountability. Flushed with power, many top chieftains lived the good life, were ostentatious and flaunted their wealth before the people, in a manner that completely misrepresented to Deltans what PDP truly is. These high flying PDP chieftains as new arriviste encouraged their followers to behave alike, and this has since become the norm in the politics of Delta state. Big, exotic cars, big houses, loudness, big titles, sheer opulence amidst general poverty. Again, sadly, this is a characteristic of Nigeria political elite and not a PDP behaviour alone, it must be noted. However, Delta PDP can choose to have different and better values.

Typically these kinds of politics encourages ruthless grab for power, imposition of personal will against due-process, manipulation of rules, status seeking, vaulting ambition etc—all destructive behaviour that gives politics a bad name.  Unfortunately, there was never any serious effort to reverse or contain this. Consequently, Delta PDP became a party that alienated its base and a party that did not sometimes meet the expectations of the people. As a matter of fact what is being said now of Delta PDP applies to PDP national.

Delta PDP was frequently riven by crisis of confidence. Those who benefitted from the existing order and those who wanted to overthrow the existing order. With such political infightings, there were chieftains with the guile and stamina to fight their way through, there were other chieftains who in frustration left and joined the opposition parties and there were those without the energy for open confrontation, who rather kept to themselves, bided their time and at opportune moment sabotaged the party. It was a jungle.

The ‘jungle war’ in the PDP gave the impression that the party spent more time fighting with each other than governing the state. It bears repeating that the confusion, lack of discipline and disorder was symptomatic of the political trend in the country at this time. Delta PDP mirrored what was happening in Abuja under President Obasanjo. So in a sense party building was a difficult undertaking when you had a president who personalised and promoted autocracy over due-process and party discipline. In many ways the seeds of what eventually removed PDP as Nigeria’s ruling party in 2015 was sown during Obasanjo’s years.

After overcoming the 2003 election it was said that Governor Ibori was determined to correct the mistakes of the first term and to restore the party to the people. On reflection, it is clear he did not quite succeed. Being a party in power perhaps papered over the cracks and disenchantment, but the real test was the party primaries that produced Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, former commissioner and secretary to the state government and cousin to Governor Ibori.

There is no doubt the eventual emergence of Dr. Uduaghan—despite his constitutional right, experience and qualifications to seek office—polarised the party for years to come. Although Dr. Uduaghan’s candidacy played a part in PDP crisis, there were other interconnected plots that made it a car accident waiting to happen. Remember, this was Obasanjo’s PDP, intrigues, infighting, sabotage was rife. Governor Ibori had long fallen out of favour with Obasanjo who decided to contrive a crisis in Delta PDP as a way to marginalise Ibori in the party.

The contrived crisis had two elements to it. Ensure Governor Ibori loses political relevance and secondly that Governor Ibori is in no position to have a say in who his successor would be.

To achieve this, the planners of oust Ibori from power did not bother if Delta PDP was destroyed. And to a large extent, the party was at the verge of a major spilt. There were all kinds of plots and sub-plots and it was said that part of the game-plan was for Ibori loyalists to move to another party should PDP national  remained adamant in its posture against the PDP Delta state.

Had this happened, this would not have been entirely strange. Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia state left PDP, founded/funded PPA and contested the general election as presidential candidate against PDP and used his platform to get his successor Governor Theodore Orji to become governor.

In Delta state, the PDP was factionalised. Chief Mallam Obi led one faction recognized by Abuja secretariat, Chief Emma Ogidi led one recognized by Governor Ibori and the ruling group in Delta state. Eventually, the Mallam Obi faction lost out and Governor Ibori was able to take control of the party again.  Securing the party was one thing, getting top chieftains like Chief EK Clark to accept the candidacy of Governor Uduaghan and his governorship of the state was an entirely different matter. The bitterness and rancor poisoned the party for years to come. Uniting the party took great compromises. In 2008 ahead of the party congress, Governor Uduaghan conceded the party Chairmanship to EK Clark faction which produced Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, Governor Uduaghan produced Solomon Ogba as party Secretary and Governor Ibori endorsed Chief Ighoyota Amori is Deputy Chairman.

In many ways the characteristic dysfunctions of PDP as a party in constant conflict evidenced during the Governor Ibori era did not go away. Nothing changed. Indiscipline was rampant. Top chieftains disregarded the party, the government and its leadership. Chief Clark in his crusade and with support of many in the party did more than anyone else to undermine the party and government. Even after the 2008 reconstitution, Chief Clark was implacable.

Governor Uduaghan’s management of the situation did not also go down well with some of his loyalists. His policy of rapprochement was thought to be unhelpful. Especially, as he appeared to them unable to strike a balance in wooing his critics and opponents, many of whom were brutal and in managing the interest and expectations of those who see themselves as his loyal supporters.  His peace at all cost was problematic to some of his loyalists and it is unclear if they did not think it a loophole, which they exploited along the way.  The unease in the party remained until the rerun election in January 2011. It was a hard fought battle. The rerun exposed all the fragilities of the party. The PDP that had reputation of landslide defeated the DPP by mere 200,000 votes. The inroad the opposition made in many local governments thought to be safe was a shock. Political reputations were burned.

And who were those working for DPP, a party with presence only in Delta state? Former PDP members who left the party or members of PDP who openly worked against the party. The April 2011 general election was worse. PDP’s victory was even by narrower margin of 100,000 votes. The party it appeared at that time was heading for a meltdown.  It is certain that PDP would have self-destructed if it lost the governorship election in 2011.   Governor Uduaghan aware of this did not credit the DPP for its success, he thought that the contest was between PDP 1, which he led and PDP 11, which were members of the party that joined the opposition.

Today, it is unclear if the initial and ongoing problem of PDP has been addressed, despite several attempts at reconciliation. However, a PDP of the future is a party that must change course. It must allow its members to have a say in a democratic manner in the running of the party. A PDP that will be great in the future is a party that is broad in embracing and empowering members and not narrow focused. A PDP that can overcome future challenges is also a party that is fair and equitable in treatment of its members. PDP should be a party that espouses and implements justice and equity and is willing to promote discipline by obeying its rules and procedures and a party that ensures its members has a moral code of behavior. PDP must ensure consultation and consensus building at all times. Time for hijack of party machine is over. Any hijack is a recipe for disaster.  As a political party, the PDP must seek out and inject new blood and fresh ideas into the party. The party must seek capable and talented people even outside of the party and give them responsibilities. This is one way of sustaining its success.

To be a PDP member means there is a certain manner of conduct. You simply cannot just behave however you like. Times are hard. PDP cannot afford to behave in a contrary manner. It must reflect the reality of the times. It must reduce its flamboyance, both as a party and as a government.  The PDP as a party and government has a vision and a programme, it must have the discipline and competence to execute the programmes it promised Deltans to the satisfaction of the people. As a governing party it must deliver democracy dividends. It must create new opportunities for Deltans.

The window of PDP future successes is becoming narrower. Why? After long years of being in power in Delta state, Deltans are going to have more than ever before the impetus to seek alternative.  To many Deltans, looking at PDP’s maneuvering is like watching an old movie and what happens to watching old movie—boredom sets in. And it should not be overlooked that political parties have been voted out of office by the people out of boredom, not necessarily all the time because of lack of performance. The people can replace the party in office to test whether another party can do better. That is the beauty of democracy. So PDP must put an end to business as usual. It must repackage itself.

This is the challenge before Delta PDP. Hopefully the current grassroots consensus building will if sustained and not undermined help the party. This is the beginning of the test. What happens between now and 2019 will determine the survival in power of the PDP in Delta state. The electoral/voting system is going to be tighter and therefore harder. With the ruling party of Nigeria now APC, the obstacles can only get bigger not smaller.

Mr. Paul Odili, is a chieftain of the PDP in Delta State.