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The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Wednesday as a former House of Representatives aspirant in Oyo State, Prof. Abiodun Raufu, announced his resignation from the opposition party, citing persistent leadership crisis and deviation from the party’s founding principles.
Raufu, a former Editor of the Nigerian Tribune and currently a Professor of Criminal Justice in the United States, formally communicated his decision in a resignation letter dated May 27, 2026, addressed to the PDP leadership at the ward and local government levels.
The former aspirant, who had sought the party’s ticket to contest the Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency seat in Oyo State, also returned his membership card as part of the formal disengagement process.
In the letter, Raufu said his decision followed a prolonged observation of developments within the PDP, which, according to him, had become deeply divided and disconnected from the ideals upon which the party was founded in 1998.
He accused some politicians within the party of placing personal ambition above collective interest, leading to fragmentation and internal instability.
According to him, “the fragmentation of the party by a few selfish politicians whose crass ambition clashes with the founding principles upon which the party was founded” had made it difficult for “decent people” to continue associating with the platform.
Raufu noted that although several politicians had either quietly defected or remained in the PDP while secretly supporting rival political parties, he chose to delay his resignation in order to fully understand the direction of the crisis before taking a final decision.
He, however, clarified that his resignation was not driven by plans to join another political party or contest any elective office in the current political cycle.
Rather, he explained that stepping away from partisan affiliation would give him the liberty to support candidates across political divides whose ideas and visions align with his personal convictions and democratic ideals.
The professor further stressed that he did not want to be accused of engaging in anti-party activities while maintaining membership of the PDP.
“This letter is therefore for record purposes,” he stated.
Raufu’s resignation is the latest in a growing wave of defections, withdrawals and internal disagreements troubling the PDP in several states, as political actors continue to reposition ahead of future elections and possible realignments within the country’s political landscape.
