By Our Correspondent
The lingering leadership crisis within Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took a dramatic turn on Saturday as a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
The faction, reportedly led by the party’s embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, made the announcement just hours after the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, suspended Anyanwu himself for alleged anti-party activities.
Saturday’s developments marked an escalation of internal wrangling that has plagued the once-dominant opposition party for months. The Damagum-led NWC convened an emergency meeting earlier in the day, during which it ratified the suspension of Anyanwu and other key national officers accused of working against the party’s interests.
In a swift counter move, Anyanwu’s faction announced Damagum’s suspension, accusing him of bias, incompetence, and collusion with external interests bent on weakening the PDP. The move deepened the already festering divisions within the party and further exposed the struggle for control between pro-Wike loyalists and members aligned with other influential blocs.
At the heart of the crisis lies the growing influence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who has remained a polarizing figure in the PDP since the 2023 general elections. Wike, a former Rivers State governor, has been accused by party insiders of working with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, while maintaining his membership in the PDP, an allegation he continues to deny.
His loyalists within the party, including Senator Anyanwu, have reportedly pushed for a leadership restructuring that would give Wike’s camp greater control over national decisions, particularly ahead of the PDP’s planned national convention slated for December 2025.
The crisis has also taken a legal turn. A recent ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed that Ambassador Damagum remains the legitimate Acting National Chairman of the PDP and cannot be removed from office until the next national convention. The ruling has cast doubt over the legality of Anyanwu’s purported suspension announcement, which may be challenged in court.
Observers say the leadership tussle is not only about internal party politics but also about control over resources and strategic positioning ahead of future elections.
Party stakeholders and concerned members have expressed worry that the escalating feud could further weaken the PDP’s standing as Nigeria’s main opposition force. Sources within the party’s Board of Trustees and Governors Forum have reportedly begun behind-the-scenes consultations to prevent a total breakdown of order.
Several governors under the PDP platform have previously intervened to nullify suspensions and directed all factions to return to the status quo pending reconciliation efforts. However, Saturday’s twin suspensions suggest that earlier peace efforts may have collapsed.
As both factions dig in, analysts warn that the PDP risks descending into a full-blown leadership crisis that could cripple its effectiveness in providing credible opposition to the APC-led federal government.
The coming weeks are expected to be decisive for the future of the party, with pressure mounting on the NWC, the Board of Trustees, and the PDP Governors Forum to urgently restore unity and credibility ahead of the 2025 convention.
