The struggle for control of Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), intensified late last week with suspensions, counter-suspensions, and legal battles splitting the party into two factions.
One faction remains loyal to Atiku Abubakar, former vice president and 2023 presidential candidate, while the other is aligned with Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sources suggest that Wike’s faction may be positioning Seyi Makinde, Oyo State governor, for the 2027 presidential election. This internal conflict is viewed as a broader struggle between forces seeking to keep PDP as an opposition party and others who prefer it as a subsidiary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), facilitating President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election.
“The betrayal by the FCT Minister against the party over the last year has been enabled by key compromised officials,” said Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives from Ideato Federal Constituency. “They are acting as agents of the APC.”
On Thursday, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Umar Damagum, loyal to Wike, suspended National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, accusing them of anti-party activities. Ologunagba’s group, loyal to Atiku, retaliated by suspending Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.
Though PDP has faced years of internal crises, the latest developments threaten its future as a viable political force. The crisis escalated following the Rivers local government election, where Wike’s camp took control of the PDP state structure, leaving his political rival, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, sidelined. Fubara’s allies switched to the Action Peoples Party (APP) as the Wike camp tried to halt the election through legal action.
The NWC, dominated by Wike’s loyalists, opposed Fubara’s decision to proceed with the election, but the governor pressed forward. The APP won 22 of 23 local government councils.
In a heated NWC meeting, the suspension of Ologunagba and Ajibade was put to a vote, while Ologunagba was absent. In response, the Ologunagba faction suspended Damagum and Anyanwu, appointing Yayari Mohammed as acting national chairman, effectively splitting the NWC.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, restrained the PDP from suspending Damagum and Anyanwu. Despite this, Ugochinyere insists the suspensions stand, claiming the court order came after Damagum had already been removed.
Amid the power struggle, the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), chaired by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, called for calm and urged both factions to restore unity within the party. Wabara emphasized that the BoT would intervene to de-escalate tensions.
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, observers believe Wike’s influence within the party, coupled with backing from the APC, could lead to the nomination of Governor Seyi Makinde as the PDP candidate. Sources suggest the 2027 election could become a contest between Makinde and Tinubu, with Makinde unlikely to challenge Tinubu’s potential second-term bid seriously.
Wike’s break from PDP began after losing the 2023 presidential primary to Atiku and being passed over for the vice-presidential slot. His defection to support Tinubu in the 2023 election solidified his break from Atiku, leading to the current battle for control of the party.
With Damagum maintaining control of the PDP, Wike has strengthened his hold on the party’s structure in both Rivers and Atiku’s home state, Adamawa. This has led to growing speculation that Atiku’s influence in the party is waning, potentially jeopardizing any plans he may have for a 2027 presidential run.
The PDP, once Africa’s largest political party, has seen its fortunes decline since losing power in 2015. Wike’s grip on the party may secure the PDP’s survival but could also see it become a tool for the APC, undermining its role as a serious opposition force in Nigeria.
As Nigerians continue to face economic challenges under Tinubu’s presidency, the future of the PDP remains uncertain, with many questioning whether it can unite tSo offer an alternative in 2027.
