By The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fueled by conflicts in Rivers State and a dispute between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has fractured the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Saturday AfrikTimes reports.
Following Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s court-ordered removal, the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has faced internal criticism, with growing calls for his resignation. The situation worsened when Damagum and several NWC members aligned with Wike approved controversial congresses in Rivers State and postponed the party’s National Executive Committee meeting to October 24.
The ongoing conflict between Wike and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, also escalated, with PDP governors backing Fubara and calling for a review of the state congresses. In response, Wike threatened retaliation on August 31, warning he would disrupt activities in the governors’ states if they continued to interfere. The PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Mohammed, condemned Wike’s threats on September 3.
On October 5, local elections in Rivers State saw a setback for Wike’s camp, with 22 out of 23 local government chairmen elected from the Action Peoples Party. In a surprising turn of events, the NWC announced the suspension of its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), on October 10. This move followed Ologunagba and Ajibade’s opposition to Damagum’s leadership and Wike’s influence within the party.
Shortly after, Ologunagba issued a statement suspending Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, citing their disloyalty to the PDP. The Ologunagba faction also named National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as acting National Chairman.
Both factions have accused each other of anti-party activities, deepening the party’s internal divide. Amid these developments, the PDP’s Board of Trustees, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, has urged the warring factions to resolve their differences and restore peace within the party.
