The popular English proverb “Good riddance to bad rubbish” is often uttered in frustration or finality when someone or something unpleasant is finally out of the picture. It is a phrase steeped in exasperation, relief, and sometimes vindication. In the past few years, and more pointedly in the post-2015 political reality of Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  once the self-proclaimed largest political party in Africa , appears to be undergoing a slow, painful, but possibly divinely orchestrated self-cleansing. Could it be that this proverbial saying is finding expression in the PDP’s current woes? Could the turmoil that has rocked the party from within be God’s way of flushing out the bad eggs that contributed to its fall from grace? It is a question worth pondering, analytically and spiritually.

In fact, to appreciate the gravity of the PDP’s current predicament, one must recall where it once stood. For sixteen years, from 1999 to 2015, the PDP held the reins of power in Nigeria. It boasted of national spread, robust war chests, and a grip on political patronage. It was a party of godfathers, rainmakers, and kingmakers. It was the “big tent” that every politician aspired to shelter under, until it was not.

In retrospect, the PDP’s descent began subtly, with internal contradictions and an over-reliance on incumbency power rather than genuine party discipline or ideology. It reached a climax when, in 2015, it suffered a historic defeat at the hands of a rebranded opposition coalition, the All Progressives Congress (APC). That loss not only ended its uninterrupted streak but also exposed the fissures and self-inflicted wounds that had been festering under the surface.

In fact, prior to its ongoing crisis of unprecedented mass defections of its members, the PDP had wobbled from one crisis to another: leadership tussles, mass defections, lack of internal democracy, and contradictory messaging. Most recently, the party’s inability to field a united front in the 2023 elections,  including the G5 Governors rebellion, the Atiku-Wike standoff, and the endless tug-of-war between the old guard and emerging forces,  has shown that something is fundamentally wrong.

Let us not sugar-coat it: the PDP has become a party weighed down by egos larger than its logo. Many of its leading figures are more interested in personal political survival and fiefdom-building than national development or ideological cohesion. Some have used the party as a personal estate, others as a springboard for negotiation and cross-carpeting, while some others remain embedded merely to block younger or more competent individuals from rising.

How else do we explain the kind of internal sabotage that marked the 2023 elections? Why was it so difficult for a party that governed Nigeria for 16 years to put aside internal wrangling to form a united front against a ruling party burdened with economic crises, insecurity, and public discontent?

It would not be an exaggeration to say that some PDP chieftains, by their actions or inactions, were more interested in destroying the house if they could not control it. This is where the phrase “good riddance to bad rubbish” begins to make spiritual and political sense.

Given the backdrop of the foregoing, it is germane to ask, “Could this be divine intervention?”

From a spiritual lens, which cannot be ignored in a religious society like Nigeria, one is tempted to see the PDP’s gradual unravelling as a divine pruning process. The Scriptures are replete with examples of God purging institutions, nations, and people before rebirth or redemption. Could it be that God is using the chaos in PDP to flush out the political merchants, power-mongers, and wolves in sheep’s clothing who hijacked the party?

In this context, those who have exited the party, whether voluntarily or due to suspension, may actually be the proverbial bad eggs. Those whose activities have brought nothing but division, suspicion, and backstabbing might just be receiving divine redirection, or rejection.

From the ouster of Uche Secondus to the rebellious stance of Governor Nyesom Wike, from the defection of prominent figures like Dave Umahi, and from the tornado-like defection just witnessed in Delta State few days ago, to the seemingly unending friction between northern and southern blocs within the party, every shake-up could be interpreted as part of a larger divine design to flush and purge.

It is worth noting that even Jesus had to cleanse the temple of moneychangers and political opportunists in His time. Why should the PDP not go through its own purging season?

For those still holding onto hope for the PDP, this ongoing self-cleansing may be a good thing, if properly channeled. The party now stands at a crossroads: reform or become irrelevant. It must choose between remaining a vehicle for political rent-seekers or transforming into a truly ideologically driven opposition party.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing view, it is expedient to suggest in this context that a new PDP must rebuild its core ideology, democratize internal processes, encourage youth participation and hold leaders accountable.

Explanatorily put, it is not out of place to opine that for too long that the party has operated like a non-ideological platform of convenience. Therefore, it must define what it stands for and articulate policies that genuinely connect with Nigerians.

In a similar vein, the party’s primaries, delegate systems, and leadership selection must be transparent and inclusive, and most importantly, godfatherism must give way to meritocracy.

Also in a similar vein, there is an urgent need for the party to encourage youth participation. This is as a party whose average leader is 65+ cannot effectively represent a country where the median age is 18. The party must empower new voices, fresh ideas, and youth-driven leadership.

Again, loyalty to the party must not trump accountability. Those who sabotage, defame, or trade the party for personal gain should not be protected, and the party must reconcile warring factions, even as it must also learn from past mistakes, considering the fact that loyalty must be earned, not begged for.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “Who’s next in the dustbin?” To answer the foregoing question, it is germane to opine that as the PDP gropes for a new path that there are still individuals within the party whose personal ambitions outweigh party interests. There are still those who treat the PDP as a retirement home or bargaining chip. If the party is serious about rebirth, more exits, voluntary or enforced, may still come. And perhaps they should.

The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as sometimes, survival requires subtraction before addition. The wheat must be separated from the chaff. The lion’s den must be cleared of foxes.

In fact, topnotch affiliates of the PDP should not regret that their members are defecting to other parties, particularly the APC, rather, they should use the unarguable disguised opportunity to reflect on the future of the party.

The PDP must reflect deeply. The mass exodus, defections, internal implosions, and trust deficit are painful, but perhaps necessary. If the party sees this season as a divine wake-up call and not a death sentence, it may yet rise from the ashes.

Let no one mourn the departure of the bad eggs. Let no tears be shed for political spoilers, saboteurs, and opportunists. If anything, their exit opens a path for younger, smarter, and more ideologically sound minds to steer the PDP back to relevance.

So yes, perhaps the proverb “good riddance to bad rubbish” is not just a saying, it is a prophecy finding expression in the PDP’s journey. And who knows, just maybe, this is how God chooses to save Nigeria’s opposition from itself.