According to the report from the Vanguard, Chris Usulor, a former governorship aspirant of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and three-term ex-House of Assembly member, has expressed his disappointment with the continued factionalization within the party. Usulor criticized party stakeholders for failing to come together and chart a new path forward for the PDP following the elections, instead continuing with the practices that led to the party's defeat in the 2023 general election.
Usulor alleged that the newly constituted Caretaker Committee includes "three known members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)." He argued that such high-handedness by the party’s leadership, particularly in the constitution of the committee against stakeholder recommendations, has caused significant disaffection and loss of confidence among party members statewide.
He said, "The decision to appoint known non-party members into the Caretaker Committee has affected party cohesion, eroded members' confidence in the party, and caused serious disaffection which is threatening to torpedo the efforts of right-thinking members like myself who are committed to unifying the party and moving it forward in the right direction."
He further accused the Caretaker Committee Chairman of autocratic behavior, which he said is contrary to the norms and traditions of the party. "The PDP, as the name implies, is a democratic party where everyone is carried along in the running and operations of the party. But the present Caretaker Chairman in the state is anything but democratic as he has decided to jettison the advice and inputs of stakeholders and members of the party."
Usulor lamented that the factionalization and high-handedness have led many members to lose hope and interest in the party's prospects, causing them to defect to other parties. He cited the example of Mrs. Ngọzi Eziulo, a former member of the state House of Assembly, who recently defected with thousands of her supporters.
He warned that many other stakeholders and members are preparing to officially defect if the party does not unite quickly. Usulor, son of the late Senator Vincent Usulor, issued a one-week ultimatum for the party to address its internal issues.
"I hereby give the party a one-week ultimatum to correct the anomalies in our great party in the state or else I will also leave the party with my supporters," he added.