The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and the faction led by former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike are at the centre of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) intense internal strife. According to reports, the Wike group is planning to suspend or expel its rivals, especially those who support the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Wike and Damagum are backed by four governors, including Ahmadu Fintiri and Seyi Makinde, while they are opposed by Ademola Adeleke and Bala Mohammed. Since Damagum was appointed after Senator Iyorchia Ayu was removed, his leadership has come under fire, which has resulted in the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings being repeatedly postponed.
According to reports, the Wike side targets opponents such as Ikenga Ugochinyere, asserting that his expulsion is a component of a larger plan to consolidate control. The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, however, has declared Ugochinyere’s purported expulsion to be void due to procedural infractions. The Board of Trustees (BoT) and party officials demand that the North Central zone elect a successor to Damagum. Despite the deepening hole and increasing division, prominent members are still hopeful that the situation can be resolved; some call for disciplinary measures, while others support reconciliation.
PDP’s already-existing divisions have been widened by opposition.
After Senator Iyorchia Ayu was removed by court order, Umar Damagum took over as the PDP’s acting national chairman. Damagum, a seasoned Yobe State politician, has come under fire for his leadership style and alleged incapacity to bring the party together in trying times. Tensions within the party have increased throughout his tenure due to accusations of favouritism and the postponing of important meetings. Former Rivers State governor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike is renowned for his forceful and swaying political strategies.
More so, Wike is still a contentious figure within the PDP despite playing a key role in the party’s agenda for the 2023 elections. The PDP’s already-existing divisions have been widened by opposition to his faction’s aggressive attempt to take power. For the PDP to be stable and secure for the future, supporters contend that Wike’s influence and Damagum’s leadership are crucial. During a recent meeting, a Wike ally declared, “The party needs strong, decisive leadership to counter internal dissent and external opposition.” According to this group, the NEC meetings must be postponed in order to guarantee comprehensive consultations.
A split PDP could lose its standing as the main opposition to APC.
Critics, especially those who support Atiku Abubakar, accuse the Wike faction of trying to silence critics. “This is about consolidating power, not unity,” said a senior party member. The many postponements are intentional strategies to quell dissent. For the party to regain equilibrium and justice, they support Damagum’s replacement. The PDP’s unity and chances of winning elections are seriously threatened by the current conflict. As Nigeria’s national elections in 2027 draw near, a split PDP could lose its standing as the main opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Internal strife might discourage prospective voters, erode the party’s capacity to put up a united face, and hurt fundraising efforts. It may be difficult for the PDP to regain important states and find a strong candidate for president if its internal conflicts are not resolved, analysts caution. In an interview, Timothy Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth Leader, defended Umar Damagum by stating that “Damaged is working tirelessly to reconcile members within the party.” Damagum declined to directly address the accusations.
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Additionally, a formal request has been made by the Board of Trustees for the North Central zone to hasten the appointment of a substantive chairperson. Important NEC member Kola Ologbondiyan said, “We applaud the BoT for supporting this initiative to restore party unity.” Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, officially cited the 2017 PDP Constitution to declare Ikenga Ugochinyere’s dismissal void. In a news release, he claimed that no state or local chapter could remove a member of the National Assembly without completing the proper procedures.