The internal crisis within Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shows no signs of slowing down, as efforts to unseat the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, intensify.
These growing tensions are now causing a deep rift among the PDP Governors’ Forum, creating further instability within the party.
According to sources within the party, Damagum has secured the support of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside at least four influential PDP governors.
The governors backing Damagum include Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State.
However, the power struggle does not end there. While governors like Peter Mbah of Enugu and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara remain neutral, seven other PDP governors are actively pushing for Damagum’s removal.
Leading this opposition is Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum. His allies in this effort include Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Edo State’s Godwin Obaseki, Bayelsa’s Douye Diri, Rivers State’s Siminalayi Fubara, Delta State’s Sheriff Oborevwori, and Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno.
A senior PDP official noted that the rift between these factions stems from dissatisfaction with Damagum’s leadership, especially after his decision to postpone the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting from September 26 to October 24.
The postponement, which followed Damagum’s endorsement of the Rivers State PDP Congresses, only worsened the internal divisions.
The tension within the party reached its peak when Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara clashed with Wike over the congresses, prompting some PDP governors to support Fubara and call for a review.
In response, Wike threatened to interfere in the governance of other states if they continued to meddle in Rivers State affairs. This threat sparked a sharp response from the PDP Governors’ Forum, which criticized Wike’s statement as reckless.
Despite these challenges, Seyi Makinde has publicly reaffirmed his unwavering support for Damagum.
“We are 100 percent behind the Damagum-led National Working Committee,” Makinde stated during a recent meeting in Oyo State. Similarly, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, another staunch supporter of Damagum, expressed his backing on social media, stressing that the North-East PDP remains united in their support.
On the opposing side, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has insisted on adherence to the PDP Constitution, which requires that any new National Chairman be chosen from the same region as the outgoing one.
Since Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the previous chairman, hails from North Central, Adeleke argues that Damagum’s replacement should also come from that zone.
Amidst these intensifying disputes, the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by its Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, has stepped in to mediate. The BoT has held several meetings with PDP governors and the party’s National Assembly caucus in an attempt to resolve the ongoing leadership crisis.
With both sides refusing to yield ground, the future of the PDP’s leadership remains uncertain, raising concerns about the party’s ability to unite ahead of upcoming elections.
This leadership crisis is not only fracturing the party but also casting doubt on the stability of the PDP’s future. As the battle for control wages on, all eyes will be on the outcome of these internal power struggles, which could either solidify or further unravel the party.
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