By ADEYEMI ADELEKE

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is steadily sliding into political irrelevance across Nigeria.

The APC said the opposition party appeared to be counting down to its “expiration” due to persistent internal crises and lack of ideological direction.

The party’s spokesman in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, made the remarks in a statement on Thursday.

Oladejo said leadership crisis, internal divisions and absence of a coherent vision had weakened the PDP over the years.

He said what once appeared as a dominant national platform had now become a shadow of its former self.

“The Lagos State chapter of the APC notes, with a mixture of concern and inevitability, the steady descent of the PDP into political irrelevance across Nigeria.

“Once presented as a national platform with lofty promises, the PDP has now set an unwanted record in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“It is becoming a party that appears to be actively counting down to its own expiration,” Oladejo said.

He added that the internal crisis within the PDP was the outcome of years of political arrogance and poor leadership culture.

“The crisis of leadership, lack of ideological clarity, and persistent internal divisions that continue to plague the PDP have reduced what was once touted as Africa’s largest political party.

“It has now become a shadow of its former self.

“What Nigerians are witnessing today within the party is not accidental; it is the natural consequence of years of political arrogance and poor leadership culture,” he said.

Oladejo also recalled the period when the PDP governed Nigeria, describing it as a time many citizens would rather forget.

“Nigerians still recall with shivers what the PDP represented during its years in power.

“Those years are now remembered by many citizens as the better-forgotten era of the locust.

“It was a period that set the nation back by decades,” he said.

According to him, the consequences of mismanagement during that era still affect the country.

“The scale of mismanagement, institutional decay and economic distortion left behind a gargantuan mess.

“Nigeria is still working tirelessly to overcome the consequences years after the party’s rejection at the polls,” Oladejo said.

He added that the PDP had failed to learn from history and continued to struggle with internal discord.

“At this stage, what appears left is merely the formalities.

“It is like the appointment of an undertaker and the determination of the party’s final resting place in Nigeria’s political history,” he said.

Oladejo said the PDP’s influence in Lagos had diminished as residents continued to support APC governance.

He said the APC remained focused on people-oriented policies and sustainable development in the state.

“While democracy benefits from responsible opposition, it is unfortunate that the PDP has repeatedly failed to rise to that role.

“Instead of reinventing itself, the party continues to sink deeper into self-inflicted crises,” he said.

Oladejo said the APC would continue to focus on governance, strengthening democratic institutions and improving residents’ quality of life. (NAN)