In the wake of factional disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governors elected under the party’s banner will convene on Monday to explore various options aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis within the main opposition party, according to reports.
Prominently positioned in the race for the national chairmanship are former Senate President David Mark, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, and Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
The turmoil within the PDP escalated on Friday, leading to a split in its national leadership, with Yayari Ahmed Mohammed and acting National Chairman Illiya Umar Damagum at the helm of the two factions.
This division followed the suspension of the party’s National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, by a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Damagum after their 593rd meeting held on Thursday.
To fill these roles temporarily, Ibrahim Abdullahi and Okechukwu Osuoha were appointed in their stead.
In a counteraction, Ologunagba announced that the NWC had suspended Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, citing a series of complaints lodged against them.
Shortly after news of Damagum’s suspension, reports emerged that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had issued a restraining order preventing the National Executive Committee (NEC) from removing him as acting national chairman until December 2025.
Before Friday’s upheaval, the PDP had slated an NEC meeting for October 24 with the intention of electing a substantive national chairman to complete Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s term, during which Damagum was expected to revert to his role as National Vice Chairman (North).
To address the crisis, a source close to the governors revealed that one option is to propose the dismissal of the entire NWC by the NEC and establish a caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs until December 2025 when the current NWC’s tenure expires.
Another potential solution involves urging the two factions to revert to the previous status quo, allowing for the election of Damagum’s successor during the rescheduled NEC meeting on October 24, 2024, as initially planned prior to the factional split.
“The replacement for Ayu was intended to be decided in the NEC meeting on April 18, 2024, but was delayed due to unfinished congresses in multiple states. The meeting was further postponed because it fell during the lesser Hajj season. Now that all states have completed their congresses, the NEC meeting is set for October 24 to select Ayu’s successor, whose term will conclude in December 2025, along with other NWC members,” the source explained.
Regarding the court order restraining the PDP from removing Damagum until December 2025, the source expressed uncertainty about whether Damagum would use the legal ruling to undermine peace negotiations.
“Damagum was briefing PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Bala Mohammed on the outcome of the NWC meeting in Bauchi State when his suspension and the court order barring his removal were announced. I have doubts about whether he instigated the court case. It is anticipated that he will not leverage the court order to disrupt efforts for reconciliation,” the source added.
Additionally, the source indicated that one of the results of Damagum’s visit to Bauchi was a recommendation that the conflicting parties maintain the status quo until the governors’ meeting the following day.
According to him, Damagum and his NWC were informed that such a crisis was unnecessary as the party prepared for the upcoming NEC meeting.
However, the situation deteriorated further yesterday as a senior national officer reportedly instructed that the offices of National Legal Adviser Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Ologunagba be forcibly entered and their locks changed.
This directive, however, had yet to be executed, as other high-ranking officials expressed discomfort with the move.
One of the officials questioned the rationale behind changing the locks for the offices of the two suspended members, noting, “To this day, the keys to the office of former national chairman Iyorchia Ayu remain unchanged.”
The party officer remarked, “Both were suspended under dubious circumstances. Why the urgency to break into their offices as if they were expelled from the party?”
THISDAY has also learned that to prevent the duo from accessing party information, a senior officer has ordered their removal from the NWC WhatsApp group.
New revelations indicate one of the allegations against Damagum is that he misused his position by donating an amount that exceeded his financial authority to flood victims in Maiduguri, Borno State.
“The financial approval limit for the acting national chairman is N10 million. However, when he visited Borno State to express condolences to the flood victims, he announced a donation of N35 million without obtaining the necessary approval from the NWC,” a national officer told THISDAY.
Mark, Suswam, and Agbo Compete for Substantive National Chairmanship Position
Meanwhile, amid these ongoing crises, the party’s key stakeholders have intensified their search for a suitable candidate from the North-central zone to serve as the substantive national chairman during their NEC meeting on October 24.
Investigations reveal that former Senate President Senator Mark, former Benue State Governor Senator Suswam, PDP Governors’ Forum Director General Agbo, and Mr. Conrad Utaan are prominent candidates from Benue State.
Sources indicate that Mark’s candidacy is being actively promoted with the support of several retired generals.
As of the latest updates, it remains uncertain whether he will officially enter the race at the upcoming October 24 NEC meeting.
Following Mark, Suswam is also gaining significant traction as a candidate.
He told THISDAY over the weekend that his campaign is not a matter of life and death.
“Yes, I am running to be the next national chairman because I believe I can unite the party through honest leadership. I will work to eliminate the impunity and negative reputation that has plagued the PDP,” Suswam stated.
On the other hand, Utaan has garnered considerable support due to his youth and fresh perspective on issues.
Last week, newly elected local government chairmen of the PDP in Benue State endorsed him for the national chairmanship.
Similarly, Agbo, a former deputy national secretary of the PDP and former chairman of the party in Benue State, enjoys substantial support as well. He was well-regarded among the state chairmen during his tenure as the chair of that group and currently serves as the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum. Agbo is believed to have the backing of several governors.
