The party was formed on 10 September 2006 by Winston Dookeran, then the embattled Political Leader of the United National Congress announced at a rally that he was leaving the UNC and forming a new party. Dookeran and his supporters had been engaged in internal party feuding with the UNC executive which was loyal to party founder (then Chairman and former Leader) Basdeo Panday.

Dookeran was soon joined by UNC MPs Ganga Singh (who became the Party Whip) and Manohar Ramsaran. Two Independent MPs who had previously left the UNC, Gillian Lucky and Gerald Yetming, also joined the new party.

Former UNC Senators Robin Montano, Roy Augustus, Carol Seepersad Bachan and Sadiq Baksh also joined. Additionally, the entire Constituency Executives for Chaguanas and San Fernando West also quit the UNC. The support for Dookeran served as the catalyst for the formation of the new movement.

The Congress of the People (COP), is a partner party within the People's Partnership coalition which contested the 2015 general elections in Trinidad & Tobago. However, the COP contested eight (8) seats, but was only able to secure the St. Augustine seat, which was held by its political leader, Mr. Prakash Ramadhar. As a result of their election defeat at the polls, the COP together with the United National Congress (UNC) formed the opposition.