PDP, LP crises, tax bills controversy, other political events that shaped 2024

After the political frenzy of 2023 – with the elections and transition period – 2024 was expected to have less of politics and more of governance. However, it still managed to bring its share of politicking.

From the off-season elections in Edo and Ondo states to the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, 2024 was full of political events. Many of them are expected to have long-term effects, potentially shaping the politics of 2027.

In this piece, PREMIUM TIMES reviews some of the major political events of the past 12 months and their implications for Nigerian politics.

1. The endless PDP crisis

This marks the third consecutive year of crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The turmoil, which began as a fallout of the presidential primary election in May 2022, shows no signs of abating.

The main opposition party remains factionalised: the Atiku Abubakar faction, the G5 group led by Nyesom Wike, and the Bala Mohammed-led group. Throughout 2024, these factions engaged in turf wars often fought through proxies. Within the PDP Governors Forum, the infighting was intense. The National Assembly PDP caucus was similarly divided along these lines, while the National Working Committee (NWC) completed the triad of conflict.

In 2024, the factions vied for control of the NWC, led by Umar Damagum, who is believed to be loyal to Mr Wike.

A coalition of anti-Damagum forces made frantic efforts to unseat him, but the move ultimately failed. In October, the party witnessed a series of “suspension and counter suspension.” However, the impasse eventually led to a political compromise, leaving the crisis unresolved.