Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now “dead,” attributing its collapse to persistent internal crises and weak leadership.

Fayose said the party’s decline has become undeniable following the mass defection of key figures and its failure to resolve internal disputes.

“A year ago, I warned that the PDP was in trouble and needed urgent rescue. Today, the party is dead,” Fayose said. “The PDP is comatose — disunity and poor leadership have destroyed it.”

He lamented that the PDP ignored early warning signs, leading to widespread defections that reflect the depth of its troubles. “When the major players have left the party, who is left to save it? Those who should rebuild the PDP have all jumped ship,” he added.

Fayose’s comments come amid fresh legal turmoil in the party. Earlier, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the PDP from holding its national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The ruling followed a suit by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who alleged he was unlawfully barred from purchasing nomination forms for the chairmanship race.

Justice Lifu ruled that the PDP failed to publish a timetable for the convention as required by law, warning that disregard for due process could lead to “anarchy.” The court therefore suspended the convention until all legal procedures are followed.

Reacting to the conflicting court orders, Fayose criticised an Oyo State High Court for granting the PDP temporary approval to proceed with the convention despite the Federal High Court’s restraining order.

“How can a state high court sit over a Federal High Court’s decision? When did a state court become an appellate court?” Fayose queried, accusing the Oyo court of overstepping its jurisdiction.

He warned that such judicial inconsistencies could deepen the PDP’s crisis and create confusion within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP has battled months of internal division marked by leadership disputes, factional suspensions, and mass defections.

This year alone, four serving governors — Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and Peter Mbah (Enugu) — have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

The rift between Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu has further split the party, with each faction suspending loyal members of the other.

In July, former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar also resigned from the PDP, citing irreconcilable differences. He has since begun coalition talks under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to form a new opposition alliance against the APC.