Former Minister of Health and a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. ABC Nwosu, has expressed deep concerns over the party’s deviation from its original vision, attributing its current crises to a long-standing abandonment of internal democracy and founding principles.
In a candid interview, Prof. Nwosu traced the PDP’s internal challenges back to 1998 when his gubernatorial ticket in Anambra State was annulled by the party’s appeal panel despite winning the primaries. According to him, this early act of impunity set the tone for the erosion of democratic processes within the party.
“When the party started deviating from its founding principles, then the problem started,” he said. “We campaigned across local governments and won the primaries, but our tickets were taken away. The panel warned that this path of impunity would destroy the party, and it has.”
He also blamed the party’s inability to adhere to its rotational presidency agreement for sparking deeper divisions. Citing the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, Nwosu noted that the decision to allow then-Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to run for two full terms alienated the North and triggered rebellion within the party.
“If PDP had brought a Northern candidate, according to its rules, it would not have lost the election,” Nwosu stated.
He lamented how governors and wealthy individuals hijacked the party, abandoning the original plan to fund PDP through grassroots membership subscriptions. The shift in funding gave undue influence to moneybags and distorted the party’s vision.
Nwosu, who was present at key founding meetings in Prof. Jerry Gana’s house, argued that PDP now bows to the whims of “supermen” rather than its constitution.
“He who pays the piper dictates the tune,” he said. “If the PDP wants to come back, it must correct the issues of internal democracy, rotational presidency, and party funding.”
Despite the current turmoil, Nwosu remains hopeful that the PDP can recover, especially in light of the failures of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I’m very happy for the present crisis because APC has shown us what the alternative is,” he said, referencing the party’s disregard for democratic norms, particularly in the National Assembly. “Nigerians can now judge how far we’ve strayed from true democracy.”
On Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention
Prof. Nwosu described the continued detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as “painful and senseless,” arguing that the government has no justification to hold him after court orders for his release.
“What is it that Nnamdi Kanu is going to do that Boko Haram or the bandits haven’t done?” he asked. “The court said release him. Not releasing him is a challenge — ‘do your worst’ — and that’s how many people feel.”
Nwosu criticized the federal government’s double standards in releasing violent extremists in the North while continuing to detain Kanu.
Insecurity in the South-East
He also linked Kanu’s detention to the deteriorating security in the South-East, though he clarified that Kanu himself is not the cause of violence. According to Nwosu, criminal elements and external actors have hijacked the unrest for personal and political gains.
“At a time, the South-East was the most secure region. Now, the insecurity is alarming. Criminals have infiltrated and the people can no longer tell who is who,” he said, citing personal threats he had received.
He narrated painful instances of targeted attacks on prominent Igbo personalities like Dr. Chike Akunyili and Prof. George Obiozor, suggesting attempts to provoke the region into unrest.
“Criminality has taken over. It’s not all IPOB. People are simply taking advantage of the chaos,” he noted.
On South-East Governors and Regional Cooperation
Nwosu urged South-East governors to unite under a single economic and developmental framework, lamenting the lack of coordination and the failure to implement the South-East Development Initiative (SEDI).
“We’ve produced top economic minds like Soludo and Prof. Osita Ogbu. We should come together for joint projects that transcend individual states,” he advised. “Eastern Nigeria under M.I. Okpara was once the fastest-growing economy in the world. We can do it again.”
He called for renewed political and economic synergy among the governors of Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states.
On Anambra Politics and PDP’s Future
Despite his long history with the PDP, Prof. Nwosu confirmed he has since resigned from the party on grounds of principle and conscience. He said he is no longer involved in partisan politics and will not be participating in the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
“Let the people decide freely who they want. That is the simplest thing to do,” he stated.
He praised former Governor Peter Obi for his leadership style, noting that his humility — whether real or perceived — contributed to Anambra’s most stable governance period.
On Federalism in Nigeria
Prof. Nwosu also took aim at the current structure of Nigeria’s federation, calling for a return to true federalism and fiscal decentralization. He rejected the term “sub-national governments,” saying it undermines the autonomy of the states.
“There’s no such nonsense in a proper federation. What we are running now is not federalism. It must be reviewed,” he said. “Let’s go back to what our founding fathers envisioned.”
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