Former Rivers State House of Representatives member, Farah Dagogo, has attributed the lingering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party to the unresolved conflict between former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking during an interview with Daily Post, Dagogo stated that the failure to reconcile Jonathan and Amaechi before the 2015 elections significantly contributed to the party’s current challenges.
He argued that if Jonathan’s allies had prioritized reconciliation, the PDP could have avoided losing critical political ground.
Dagogo, who previously vied for the governorship position in Rivers State, criticized a small group within the party for selfishly orchestrating the crisis to serve their ambitions, ultimately undermining the PDP’s stability. Despite these issues, he expressed confidence in the party’s ability to recover and meet Nigerians’ expectations for a viable opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
He emphasized that the PDP’s struggles stem from internal divisions created by individuals seeking personal gain. Reflecting on the 2015 elections, Dagogo lamented the party’s decision to sideline Amaechi, which he believes strengthened the opposition All Progressives Congress.
He explained that Amaechi’s defection to the APC, along with other governors and influential members, weakened the PDP’s position nationally. While the PDP retained Rivers State, Dagogo noted that the loss of the presidency had far greater consequences, describing the situation as sacrificing the presidency to retain a state.
Dagogo argued that Jonathan’s failure to reconcile with Amaechi was a missed opportunity, especially since Amaechi was not pursuing any elective office at the time. He maintained that the divisions could have been avoided if the forces surrounding Jonathan had prioritized unity within the party.
Looking ahead, Dagogo urged the PDP to address its internal conflicts and position itself as a credible alternative for Nigerians in the next election cycle.
He said, “Nigerians are expecting a whole lot from the PDP. But regrettably, my party has not lived up to that billing because of in-house fighting. These so-called crises are selfishly created by few individuals to bolster their inordinate ambition to the detriment of the party and to a bigger extent, a larger section of Nigerians who are looking up to it for a viable option.
“I have said it and will still repeat it. The PDP put itself in this mess prior to the 2015 elections where some individuals impressed it on then President Goodluck Jonathan to tactically make the then Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, irrelevant in the PDP, and pushed him out.
“That unfortunate action forced Amaechi and other governors out of the PDP to strengthen the then opposition APC. What did we (PDP) get in return? We retained or recaptured Rivers State from the APC, by virtue of Amaechi decamping to the APC. We won that battle in Rivers State and lost the war, the Presidency, which was the most important one.
“So, it is safe to say that we sacrificed the Rivers State election for the Presidency. If selfish pursuits were jettisoned then and the differences between Jonathan and Amaechi were reconciled, Amaechi and other governors, including other strong party members would not have left the PDP for APC.
“As at then, Amaechi was not contesting for any elective position. He was about serving off his second term. President Jonathan on the other hand was in the race for a second term. If only the forces around Jonathan had allowed him to reconcile with Amaechi, it wouldn’t have been like this.
“But, the selfish interest of one individual, who destroyed the zoning arrangements in Rivers State, boomeranged and cost us the war and we lost the Federal. That was all. What has to be done now is for a complete overhaul of the existing leadership structure of the party. As it is now, I agree with you that it is all gloomy, but it is never too late to do the right things.”
