The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing an intense internal crisis as factions loyal to Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike clash with the leadership of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum ahead of the party’s November convention in Ibadan. Party meetings in Abuja this week revealed a deepening rift, with governors, ex-governors, and party officials sharply divided over control and procedural authority within the party.
Wike’s camp, described as the ‘rebels,’ is pressing a six-point ultimatum demanding fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, recognition of South-South outcomes upheld by the courts, local government congresses in Ekiti, an end to micro-zoning beyond the NEC formula, and that the chairmanship remains in the North Central. Wike is reportedly coordinating efforts discreetly from his Abuja residence, with whispers of talks with the ruling APC circulating within party ranks.
In response, Damagum and the PDP’s secretariat have insisted on the legality of the Ibadan convention, citing that only documents signed by him and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu are recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). At the inauguration of the convention planning committee, Damagum emphasized the party’s resilience and determination to reclaim the presidency in 2027.
Governors and senior party officials, including Bala Mohammed, Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, have reinforced the leadership’s stance, warning against attempts to disrupt party processes. Fintiri urged members to participate in internal democracy by buying forms and submitting for contests, while condemning public airing of internal disputes.
With Ibadan set as the focal point of the upcoming convention, the PDP faces a delicate balancing act between enforcing party procedures and managing dissent. Legal authority and political maneuvering now define the party’s trajectory, as both factions prepare for what insiders describe as a decisive showdown.
