Psychiatrists Needed In Politics — Commonwealth Director.

Prof. Kila.

The Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies, Prof Anthony Kila, has condemned the latest factional conflict within the Peoples Democratic Party, describing it as a sign of deep-rooted dysfunction across Nigerian political parties.

Speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, Kila stated that the conduct of party leaders during the parallel gatherings at Wadata Plaza showed a breakdown of civility, democratic culture, and internal order.

He said, “What we saw there is a show of shame in terms of form and process. The content can be legitimate, but it underlines the flaw in the Nigerian partisan political elite class.”

He added that the willingness of politicians to use police officers as thugs, along with the shouting, pushing, and mutual expulsions, demonstrated that they were not driven by shared ideals but by the pursuit of power. He said, “The fact that these people can deploy police officers as thugs, shouting, shoving, and resorting to expelling and fighting one another shows they are not of like minds… they are people there to grab power.”

Kila also highlighted the absence of professional guidance within political structures. According to him, “A lot of psychiatrists are not where they ought to be. It might be a good idea to actually include a law to say that every party should have a lead house psychiatrist to deal with issues of the party as well.”

He stressed that the current situation is not peculiar to the PDP. He said, “This today is the PDP. It could be anybody tomorrow. Most political parties in Nigeria share these uncivilised, unbecoming, uninspiring traits. We need to look at it as a system problem, not just a PDP problem.”

The confrontation erupted when factional National Chairman Kabiru Turaki and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike arrived separately for NEC and BoT meetings, triggering a clash that required significant security presence.

The crisis followed last Saturday’s Ibadan convention, during which prominent figures such as Wike, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Kamaldeen Ajibade, former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose, and Austin Nwachukwu were expelled for alleged anti-party actions.

In retaliation, the Wike-led group removed Bode George, former BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara, and Turaki, deepening the internal divisions.

Kila underscored the need for a functional opposition to uphold democratic principles. He said, “Let us lay a preamble to state that the reason why we’re talking about the PDP this morning is not because we are of the PDP or against the PDP. It is because those who respect institutions, love democracy, and understand what civility and civic sense are must have an interest in having a vibrant, stable, and viable opposition.”

Addressing Wike’s call for the PDP to back an APC presidential candidate, he insisted that such a proposal must follow due process. He said, “It is legitimate for Minister Wike to say he wants his party to support an APC president. But the way to go about it is to have a proper conversation on the table… If the party agrees, then they support him. If they disagree, that will be a minority report.”