The crisis tearing through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has exploded into an all-out political showdown, as rival factions within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) issued dueling suspensions on Saturday — a dramatic escalation that deepens uncertainty over the opposition party’s leadership.
In a stunning twist, the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and five other key national officers, accusing them of incompetence and financial misconduct.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the suspended National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who spoke on behalf of the factional NWC, said the action became necessary to “restore sanity and discipline” within the party.
“Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything, and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended,” Anyanwu said.
“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgement. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.”
Anyanwu went further to announce a shake-up in the party’s leadership, naming the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the new Acting National Chairman pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.
“Therefore, we are announcing the National Vice Chairman (North Central) to serve as the Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman,” he declared.
The faction also wielded the hammer against other top members of the NWC.
“We also suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for issuing statements without the party’s approval, and the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has also been suspended,” Anyanwu stated.
“The National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro, who has been involved in alleged financial misconduct, has also been suspended. The National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, and the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended for 30 days. All of them will be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled.”
However, Saturday’s dramatic counter-suspension came just hours after Damagum’s camp, under the official NWC, announced the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu himself, along with the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two others — a move widely seen as a preemptive strike in the ongoing internal war.
Political analysts say the crisis reflects a deepening power struggle between forces loyal to Wike and those aligned with other national leaders, threatening to tear the PDP apart ahead of critical political realignments in 2026.
With both factions now claiming legitimacy, the PDP’s leadership structure hangs in limbo, and party insiders warn that the impasse may soon lead to a full-blown split unless urgent reconciliation efforts are initiated.
