The PDP has a serious problem on its hands. It’s not the loss of Aso Rock or the rapidly disappearing election victories neither is it Buharis anti corruption campaign.

PDP’s problem is PDP.

Anyone who objectively looked at last years elections a few weeks to the start of voting could tell the PDP would lose. Jonathan was the worst candidate to adopt, he literally had no political capital left to invest.

There had been a steady mass exodus of influential northern politicians from the party and those that had always been affiliated with the party, like Danjuma, refused to endorse the PDP’s candidate.

The result was that no one could convince the north, the single most powerful voting bloc in Nigeria to vote for PDP. It was always going to be a tight race in the west and the east would largely be apathetic, the booming support from the south south would not be enough because of its lack of population compared to the rest.

But the PDP and its supporters remained deluded and after the defeat, remained in denial and now to borrow from Meghan Trainor, ‘it’s all about that bass’, or should I say rants. Nowhere in nearly a year since PDP’s historical loss has the party taken radical steps to fix the problem that cost it the presidency, they just rant a lot.

From Femi Fani-Kayode to Olisa Metuh, it’s all about the propaganda and less about action it seems all the political master strategists have picked up the broom or just got tired of holding an umbrella.

The PDP needs to start working towards reclaiming presidency in 2019, every other thing is a side attraction, however, doing this will require a lot of fence mending and political handshaking.

Buhari had lost to the PDP countless times and won by not too great a margin. He will definitely loose support no matter how well he does, especially considering current and projected economic outlooks. PDP needs to plan to keep their present support and take what percentage of Nigerians fall of the APC wagon.

PDP needs to start by cleaning house, some loud mouths have got to go or be gaged at the very least, Nigerians want more intelligent action and less talk. Yes I’m talking about FFK & associates.

PDP of course needs brand new leadership. Not recycled or redundant but brand new. Even if they have to import non-politicians to do this. Then the leadership must think deep on how best to consolidate with other parties like APGA and Labour who keep eating out of whatever leftovers PDP gets.

A merger will be a golden move, but that will take Einstein level political intelligence and Sun Tzu tactics. Let’s face it PDP as we know it, is done. Should any political party break out of the APC, they’ll most likely be higher in the pecking order.

A top elected PDP politician needs to become a saint in PDP’s interest. The next four years all hands must be on deck to make he/she spotless and highly effective. PDP needs credible and positively influential politicians to help in the rebranding process.

Donald Duke for example needs to become the poster boy of a new PDP. I think he’s the only one that can come close to APC’s poster boy, that is Babatunde Fashola.

The most important thing is PDP needs to remain spotless. Sacrifice whoever is needed to Buhari’s anti-corruption. Don’t fight it, they will just be liabilities anyway. Let Nigerians see that the party has turned a new leaf.

Rebranding the party as youth driven will gain them a lot of support among the Nigerian youth, not just a propagandist rebranding, but put forward younger politicians.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Originally Posted on UgoTalksAlot