PDP Governors Plan Emergency Summit Amidst Leadership Crisis

PDP Governors Plan Emergency Summit Amidst Leadership Crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been thrown into turmoil as internal leadership battles escalate, prompting the party’s elected governors to convene an emergency meeting in Asaba, Delta State. The crisis, which reached a boiling point during a chaotic Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Abuja, has intensified divisions within the opposition party, with top leaders exchanging accusations and engaging in physical confrontations.

Governors Move to Address PDP’s Lingering Crisis

Amid rising tensions, the PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has called for an emergency meeting on Friday in Asaba. The meeting aims to address critical issues threatening the unity and stability of the party. Among the key topics on the agenda are the scheduling of the long-overdue National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, preparations for the upcoming zonal congresses, and the ongoing dispute over the position of the National Secretary.

The urgency of the meeting follows months of internal discord, with party members accusing Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum of mismanaging the crisis. Damagum, widely regarded as an ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has faced criticism from PDP stalwarts who argue that his leadership has deepened the party’s divisions. With the PDP struggling to maintain cohesion after its poor showing in the 2023 elections, the governors hope that the Asaba summit will pave the way for reconciliation and a stronger opposition stance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

BoT Meeting Turns Chaotic as Party Leaders Clash

The urgency of the crisis was underscored on Wednesday when a PDP BoT meeting in Abuja descended into chaos. Supporters of embattled National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu allegedly attacked former PDP National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye, leading to a physical altercation that disrupted proceedings. Sources revealed that BoT members were outraged by the incident, with many calling for decisive action against those responsible for the attack.

Eyewitnesses recounted that Ude-Okoye had been addressing the BoT members when he was forcefully removed by Anyanwu’s supporters. The intervention of security forces, including the police, Civil Defence operatives, and the Department of State Services (DSS), was required to restore order. The BoT, in an attempt to mediate, later allowed both Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu to participate in the meeting, recognizing that both had court rulings supporting their claims to the position of National Secretary.

Damagum and Wabara Call for Unity and Urgent NEC Meeting

Reacting to the deepening crisis, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum blamed senior party leaders for fueling divisions within the PDP. He lamented that some members of the BoT were actively encouraging factions within the National Working Committee (NWC), exacerbating the party’s instability. “It is unfortunate that those who should be uniting us are instead sowing seeds of discord,” Damagum said, warning that internal conflicts could cripple the party ahead of future elections.

BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara also expressed frustration over the state of the PDP, urging party leaders to put aside personal ambitions for the sake of the party’s survival. He called for the immediate convening of a NEC meeting in February, emphasizing that resolving internal disputes was critical to restoring the party’s credibility. “The PDP must not allow personal interests to override the party’s well-being,” Wabara said, stressing that the NEC remains the highest decision-making body that can restore order within the opposition party.

APC Mocks PDP, Calls Crisis an ‘Entertaining Drama’

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has seized on the PDP’s internal strife to mock its leadership struggles. APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim dismissed the crisis as a sign of the PDP’s inability to govern itself, let alone lead the country. He argued that the opposition party’s prolonged turmoil justified the electorate’s decision to vote it out of power in 2015.

The PDP cannot even manage its internal affairs, yet it claims to be ready to challenge the APC in future elections. This crisis is simply an entertaining drama for us,” Ibrahim remarked. He went further to suggest that PDP leaders should attend the APC Progressives Institute to learn how to engage in politics without bitterness. His comments underscore the ruling party’s confidence in its position, as it continues to consolidate power while the opposition remains fragmented.

As the PDP governors prepare to meet in Asaba, all eyes will be on whether they can navigate the party out of its deepening crisis. With the 2027 elections looming, the outcome of this summit could determine whether the PDP remains a viable opposition force or continues its slide into political irrelevance.


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