The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified, with mounting pressure on the party’s embattled acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, to step aside.
Party insiders reveal that factions loyal to various power blocs are at loggerheads, threatening to deepen the cracks within the opposition party.
At a recent Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Abuja, members voiced frustration over the state of the party, particularly the National Working Committee’s (NWC) repeated delays in convening a much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The postponement has fueled allegations that the party has been hijacked by vested interests, with Damagum’s leadership at the centre of the controversy.
The defection of Eriethake Ibori-Suenu, a PDP House of Representatives member from Delta State and daughter of former Governor James Ibori, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has further escalated tensions.
The BoT members reportedly view the defection as a symptom of the party’s waning influence under Damagum’s leadership.
In their communique, the BoT demanded that the NWC convene the NEC meeting by February 2025 to address pressing issues, including the nomination of a replacement for former National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, by the North Central Zone.
Damagum’s critics, many of whom are aligned with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accuse him of favouring the interests of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Despite the opposition, Damagum’s camp remains optimistic. His supporters argue that a court injunction secures his position until December 2025, allowing him to serve out his term.
However, some insiders suggest that Damagum is prepared to revert to his role as Deputy National Chairman (North) if his tenure as acting Chairman is cut short.
