The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria is facing a crisis that has polarized the party since the May 2022 national convention that produced Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate for last year’s election. The pro-Atiku side has suspended acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum, and the National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, who are perceived to have sympathy for Wike. The Damagum faction retaliated by suspending the national secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the national legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade.
The governors have called for a return to the status quo, and a meeting of the NEC was called for October 24 to examine the issues at stake. However, neither side is prepared to compromise on its position. Damagum and his group are said to be insisting on him serving out his term until December 2025, while the Atiku camp wants him out as early as possible so that he would not be a stumbling block to his 2027 presidential aspiration.
Damagum and his backers feel strongly that he is on firm legal ground with the recent interim order of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Lifu had restrained the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum as acting national chairman and ordered that no person must be recognized as PDP chairman other than Damagum until the national convention of the party is scheduled for December next year.
Party sources said that nobody was sure yet of what would happen at the upcoming NEC meeting as the gladiators have been busy working on strategies to control the party ahead of the national convention that will elect the presidential flag bearer for the 2027 election. The majority of the governors are in support of their Rivers State counterpart Siminalayi Fubara in his battle with Wike for control of the party’s structure.
Much of the criticism leveled against Damagum stems from proxy battles linked to power blocs jockeying for control ahead of the upcoming race, especially as loyalists of former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar appear anxious about Damagum’s influence and suspected alignment with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Even at formal meetings of major party stakeholders, it is officially acknowledged that proxy ‘wars’ exist within the party and that those being given critical assignments, including leadership roles and membership in both the reconciliation and disciplinary committees, must check tendencies towards fighting for proxy interests.
