The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has been thrown into fresh political uncertainty after its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, abruptly resigned from the party this week, citing the complete breakdown of internal structure and leadership.
His resignation, confirmed in a letter dated April 8 and addressed to the PDP Ward 2 Chairman in Akure South, did more than announce his exit—it confirmed what many party loyalists have whispered for months: the house is divided, and no one seems ready to rebuild it.
Peretei, a vocal figure within the PDP’s media operations, didn’t mince words. He described the party as adrift, struggling not just with electoral defeat but with an identity crisis. “We’ve lost the fire, the focus, and the future,” he reportedly told close associates in a private chat that later circulated among party groups. “How do you campaign when you don’t even believe in the message anymore?”
His resignation comes just months ahead of the critical November 2025 governorship election in Ondo, where the PDP is expected to challenge a well-rooted APC and a rising Labour Party. But insiders now say the party may be headed into that race with more confusion than strategy.
“This is more than a resignation—it’s a warning shot,” said political analyst Tunde Faleye. “When your own spokesperson walks away from the mic, it tells the public that even your message isn’t worth defending anymore.”
In recent months, cracks in the party have become increasingly difficult to hide. Internal rifts over candidate selections, unresolved factional disputes, and a lack of funding for grassroots mobilization have frustrated members. At least three local government coordinators and a youth leader have also quietly stepped down since December 2024. None of them made noise about it—but all of them left for the same reason: disillusionment.
And yet, the PDP in Ondo is no stranger to battles. It has flipped the state before and once held the governor’s office. But this time, its biggest opponent may not be the APC—it may be itself.
Peretei’s departure hits differently because he was one of the few remaining figures defending the party in public and in media. Without a functioning communication wing and with morale dipping fast among young voters, the party risks becoming a silent observer in an election it was once expected to contest fiercely.
Attempts to reach the Ondo PDP chairman for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publishing. However, some local ward leaders have issued appeals for calm and unity—urging members not to “lose faith.” But critics say faith isn’t the issue—clarity and coordination are.
“The PDP in Ondo needs a reboot, not a rally,” said Dr. Funmi Oyelade, a political strategist. “What we’re seeing now is a party that’s unsure of what it stands for. If they don’t fix that quickly, 2025 will pass them by.”
With November drawing closer, and rival parties gaining traction, the PDP faces a defining choice: reform from within, or watch its support collapse from the outside.
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