The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified, as two factions of the party’s leadership continue to clash over control. The split, which has been brewing since 2022, reached a critical point last Friday, leading to heated exchanges and legal interventions between the faction led by Yayari Mohammed and the one led by Umar Damagum.
On Monday, Yayari Mohammed, the newly-declared factional acting National Chairman, challenged the leadership of the rival National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Umar Damagum, accusing them of failing to address threats to security. At a press conference in Abuja, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the acting National Publicity Secretary of Damagum’s faction, warned that they might resort to “security measures” to uphold the rule of law amidst the party’s internal tensions.
Abdullahi emphasized, “We must ensure that certain actions are not guided by sentiments and personal interests but by the party’s constitution. In the face of this reckless violation of a subsisting court order, we are left with no option but to deploy the services of security agencies to enforce the rule of law.”
Suspension and Legal Battle
The infighting escalated after Damagum’s faction suspended the party’s National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. This action prompted Ologunagba to counter by suspending Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, citing complaints raised against them. A court ruling has further complicated the situation, with a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering that Damagum remains the party’s acting National Chairman until a convention is held in December 2025.
Justice Peter Lifu’s judgment, delivered virtually, stated that “no other person must be recognized as the PDP acting national chairman apart from Damagum” until the scheduled party convention. Abdullahi reiterated the importance of adhering to the ruling, saying, “Our assumption of office follows the PDP Constitution (2017 as Amended). It is therefore distasteful for a leader to misinform the public on national television and other media that our assumption is unconstitutional.”
Mohammed’s Stance
In response to the threats, Yayari Mohammed remained defiant. Speaking in an exclusive interview, he emphasized that his faction had communicated their position to party leadership and were awaiting a resolution. “We have submitted all our positions and views to the organs of the party: the governors’ forum, the Board of Trustees, and other members. They have assured us that they will take a position and get back to us. Therefore, we are not worried about any threats; they should go ahead and carry out theirs,” he said.
Mohammed insisted that his faction’s demands focused on adherence to the party’s constitution, stating, “The party’s constitution should be obeyed, and that is our demand.”
Governors’ Efforts to Mediate
The governors elected under the PDP banner have attempted to mediate the crisis, but their efforts so far have not yielded a consensus. An emergency online meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, was held on Monday but ended without a resolution. According to a source, the discussions will continue on Tuesday in the hope of finding common ground.
“The meeting started around 5 p.m., but they could not finish the meeting today. They will continue tomorrow,” confirmed a party official who requested anonymity.
The split among the governors further complicates the situation. Seven governors, including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, are backing Damagum’s removal, while four others, led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, oppose it. Two governors, Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, have remained neutral amid the growing tensions.
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Possible Caretaker Committee
Amid the unresolved issues, the PDP is considering forming a caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs until December 2025, when the current NWC’s term ends. Prior to the latest suspensions, the party had planned a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for October 24 to elect a new national chairman to complete the tenure of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, a PDP chieftain, downplayed the severity of the crisis, describing it as a common power struggle within political parties. “The disagreement between Damagum’s group and the Ologunagba group within the party’s NWC is just a struggle,” he explained, expressing confidence that the situation would not threaten the party’s stability.
He added, “It should be remembered that the party has stated repeatedly that in line with the PDP Constitution, Damagum as Acting National Chairman will be replaced by a substantive National Chairman from the zone of Dr. Ayu, the last substantive National Chairman. This could happen as early as 24th October 2024 when the NEC is scheduled to meet.”