The 2023 general election in Nigeria caused a significant political upset in the North Central region, as a wave of change swept away many political heavyweights. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the most affected party in the region, with all incumbent senators, except Abba Moro from Benue South, losing their bids for re-election.
The North Central region comprises six states: Kogi, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and holds a substantial number of Senate seats, totaling 19 senators. Prior to the 2023 election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) held the majority in several states, while the PDP maintained its ground in others.
However, after the 2023 election, the political landscape in the North Central region witnessed a significant transformation. Apart from Abba Moro, all incumbent PDP senators lost their re-election bids. The new Senate representation for the region in the 10th Assembly is as follows: Benue (PDP – 1, APC – 2), Kogi (APC – 3), Nasarawa (SDP – 2, PDP – 1), Plateau (PDP – 2, APC – 1), FCT (Labour Party – 1), Kwara (APC – 3), and Niger (APC – 2, PDP – 1).
With this new composition, the PDP finds itself in the minority within the North Central region's Senate representation for the 10th Assembly. The APC holds the majority with 11 senators, while the PDP has 5 senators. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Labour Party each have 2 and 1 senator(s), respectively.
The PDP's diminished presence in the North Central region's Senate representation raises questions about the party's future strategy and its ability to influence legislative decisions effectively. To regain prominence in subsequent elections, the party needs to regroup and rebuild its support base.
Edwin Onuh, a prominent PDP member from Benue State, expressed grave concern over the party's dwindling fortunes nationwide, including in the North Central region. He emphasized the urgent need for the party to regroup and strategize to survive, highlighting the proverbial notion that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Onuh likened the party's current state to a patient in the political intensive care unit, stressing the necessity of addressing internal challenges before succumbing to a final demise.
Sunday Okechuku, another PDP member from the FCT, attributed the party's electoral losses in Abuja to what he called the "Peter Obi – 'Obidients' tsunami" that swept across the country. He called for the PDP to address its internal divisions, reevaluate its strategies, and reverse its declining fortunes. Failure to do so, he warned, may lead to further electoral setbacks and potentially spell the end for the party in Nigeria's political landscape.
The PDP's standing in the 10th Assembly in the North Central region necessitates strategic planning, effective leadership, and the ability to collaborate across party lines for the region's benefit. It remains to be seen how the party will navigate these challenges and rebuild its political influence in the region in the coming years.
