Despite playing down the existence of serious challenges that may jeopardize the fortunes of the party in the 2015 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appears to be heading towards more difficult times after all.

This is as seven of the party's 23 governors have decided to float a new party, the Voice of the People, VOP, a few days after the emergence of the People's Democratic Movement, PDM.

Sources say the application for registration, which is presently with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is undergoing processing,

DailyPost gathered that the VOP is being promoted by some chieftains and progressive members of the PDP.

However, the major backing is coming from seven aggrieved governors on the PDP platform including Murtala Nyako of Adamawa ; Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano; Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto; Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara.

The public knowledge of the development coincides with the final preparations for the special national convention of the PDP this weekend.

President Goodluck Jonathan in last Friday's private meeting with Governor Kwankwaso might have appealed to him and his colleagues to put the plan on hold while peace talks continue.

With thirteen states in the hands of rival All Progressives Congress, APC, another party controlled by seven governors would mean that the opposition controls 20 of the 36 states in the country and a merger between both may result in the ouster of the ruling PDP in 2015.

If INEC eventually registers the VOP, then the tour by the PDP national reconciliation committee led by the Bayelsa state Governor, Seriake Dickson may become a wasted effort.