Governors, Atiku, Wike jostle for control of PDP ahead of NEC meeting
The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scheduled for October 24, 2024, is set to be a three-pronged battle among the party’s state governors, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
This situation arises as the crisis within the party deepens, with the party in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, suspending its National Vice Chairman for the South East zone, Ali Odefa.
In the struggle for control of the PDP, the central issue is who will become the substantive national chairman. Ambassador Iliya Damagum has served in an acting capacity since last year when Dr. Iyorchia Ayu was forced to step down due to his suspension by his ward in Gboko.
Section 45(2) of the PDP constitution allows for the role of an acting chairman pending the election of a replacement. This section was designed to prevent a crisis that may arise if Ayu is reinstated by the courts after a replacement has been appointed in accordance with Section 47(6). The implication is that until a substantive vacancy is created, there is no compelling requirement in the PDP constitution to appoint a replacement. This applies specifically to the positions of National Chairman and National Secretary.
Following the victory of the Wike/PDP Governors group over the Atiku group at the recent NEC meeting, there appears to be a strong likelihood that the Wike group may ultimately take control of the party structure as the party prepares for the 2027 elections. Should they find it necessary to replace the acting chairman, in line with the provisions of Section 47(6) of the PDP constitution, they are likely to use their influence in the North-Central zone to propose candidates who are perceived to support their cause as potential replacements.
Sources have confirmed that former Deputy National Secretary Emmanuel Agbo, currently the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, is being groomed to emerge as the national chairman. Additionally, there is a governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, David Ombagudu, who may also be considered for support. Others believe that Damagum and his backers could find technical reasons to hold onto power until December 9, 2025, when the tenure of the current NEC constitutionally lapses.
They would have solid legal grounds in the provisions of Section 45(2) of the PDP constitution, which recognizes the role of the deputy chairman as acting chairman whenever the National Chairman is unable to function for any reason. However, a chieftain of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, has declared that no one can stop the North-Central geo-political zone from fielding a replacement for Ayu.
Ologbondiyan, the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, stated that the provisions of the PDP constitution are clear and unambiguous regarding which zone can fill the vacancy created by the ouster of Dr. Ayu as National Chairman. He made these remarks while receiving several youth groups who visited him over the weekend in Abuja, emphasizing that Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution, implemented in 2017, still applies.
He said, “As everyone knows, all PDP supporters and lovers of democracy in the country, especially our members in the North-Eastern states, including Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, and Gombe, are supporting their North-Central members to ensure that they bring someone to replace Dr. Ayu.”
The former spokesperson of the PDP called on the party’s supporters to ignore all criticisms and those who believe they are above the party’s constitution simply to seek personal gain.
The plot to remove Damagum has divided the 13 state governors elected on the PDP platform. While seven governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, are advocating for Damagum’s removal, four others, led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, support his retention. The pro-Damagum governors are allies of Wike. Governors elected on the PDP platform are split over whether Damagum should continue as acting national chair of the party.
A faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) is reportedly loyal to Wike, who has been engaged in a supremacy battle with Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers.
Bala Mohammed, chairman of the PDP governors’ forum, who hosted members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) in Bauchi on September 18, declared that Damagum’s position as acting chair had become untenable.
In the same week, Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun, through his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, publicly declared his stance against Damagum.
However, Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo, pledged support for Damagum during his visit to Ibadan for the flag-off of the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola Airport. Ahmadu Fintiri, Governor of Adamawa, also publicly declared his support for Damagum.
Governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom are reportedly anti-Damagum.
Caleb Mutfwang, Governor of Plateau, and Agbu Kefas, Governor of Taraba, are reportedly pro-Damagum, while Dauda Lawal, Governor of Zamfara, and Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu, are reportedly neutral.
Atiku and Wike fell apart ahead of last year’s general elections, with Wike leading five PDP governors to oppose Atiku’s presidential bid.
A senior member of the PDP NWC, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak publicly, confirmed that the former vice president had reached out to some of the anti-Damagum forces and other party stakeholders.
The source stated, “We are not alone; important leaders in the party, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have spoken with some of us.”
Since taking on the role of acting National Chairman of the PDP after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu, stakeholders have criticized Damagum for failing to implement essential reforms to revitalize the party.
Tensions escalated when Damagum’s NWC transferred control of the Rivers State PDP structure to Wike instead of Fubara. This action angered the PDP Governors’ Forum, which insisted that a state governor has the right to serve as the party leader in the state.
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“We have no personal issues with Damagum; our goal is to protect the party so that Nigerians have an alternative in future elections. Damagum should honor the party’s constitution and traditions, step back to his original role as Deputy National Chairman (North), and allow the North-Central to nominate a replacement promptly,” the source said.
Another reliable source close to Atiku indicated that the former vice president wants Damagum replaced in accordance with the PDP’s constitution. This source stated, “Atiku is collaborating with NWC members and other dedicated party leaders to ensure that the right actions are taken to uphold the party’s constitution.”
When contacted about Atiku’s stance on Damagum, his media aide, Paul Ibeh, told THISDAY that the main concern of the former vice president was to refocus the PDP on the dreams of the party’s founding members.
As the October date for the NEC meeting approaches, it remains uncertain whether these contending forces will gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, the crisis within the PDP has intensified, as the party in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has suspended the party’s National Vice Chairman for the South East zone, Ali Odefa.
The suspension, which takes effect immediately, was announced yesterday in Abuja following a meeting of the Ward Executive Committee. During a briefing with journalists in Abuja, the acting chairman of the PDP Oguduokwor Ward, Herbert Onyedikachi, along with other executives, explained the decision.
According to him, Odefa’s suspension was due to alleged anti-party activities and other offenses deemed detrimental to the party’s image and interests. He stated that in accordance with Section 57(3) of the PDP Constitution, the Ward Executive Committee exercised its authority to suspend Chief Odefa. Additionally, Onyedikachi stated that the committee has referred Odefa to the Ward Disciplinary Committee for further action.
He added, “The suspension and disciplinary referral are intended to maintain party discipline and uphold the values and principles of the PDP. The Ward Executive Committee urged party members to remain committed to the PDP’s objectives and goals.”
Cc: THISDAY
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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