The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed to meet the yearnings of Nigerians, a former Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, has said.

The politicians said the PDP's failure was responsible for the gale of defection the party has been facing across the land.

Baraje, who was also the chairman of the New PDP before the faction's merger with the All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that the ruling party "derailed because it has failed to fulfil the promises in its manifestoes".

He added "We told the people who voted us into power that we were going to give them economic freedom; that we were going to give them employment, electricity, quality education and food in abundance. You and I can answer to whether or not we have been able to do these."

The Kwara State-born politician addressed reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, during the annual dinner of Klob 27, an Ilorin-based elite group.

Baraje said: "The PDP has failed the people and I make bold to say that. The PDP that I know, for which I was the chairman and the National Secretary, is no longer the same PDP I knew when I was there; when many of us were there."

The former chairman described the threat by the PDP to declare the seats of 37 House of Representatives members vacant as a sign of lawlessness and disorderliness.

He said: "The PDP leaders have the right to say what they like but the law of the land overtakes anybody's opinion. There is a law that guides declaring seats vacant. So, people should go back to the law.

"But if the PDP leaders are saying they are the law, that they are the alpha and omega, that is part of not satisfying the aspiration of people. It is impunity, lawlessness and disorderliness. Some people just sit down and say they would declare some seats vacant. It is not done. We are not in a banana republic.

"All that is happening is political; nothing more. Otherwise, how do you describe people crossing from one party to another? How do you describe people who have agreed on a ground and a number of principles to work and operate together in a political party now disagreeing and then going to another party? It is political.

"However, in politics, you agree to disagree. That is exactly what has happened.

"Let me tell you: every politician in Nigeria, Africa or America has two things in common - aspiration and expectation.

"Once your aspirations and expectations are not being met - which largely may be as a result of differences in ideology - you don't have any business being in the group that is inadequately representing your ideology or your belief. These may transcend into your aspirations.

"Therefore, if the PDP is no longer satisfying the interest and aspirations of the people that are there, the people who are largely politicians, it is normal to fuse into another group in which they think their aspirations and ideology will be met. It's not only for themselves but also for the betterment of the public and the country. So, this is exactly what has happened."