PDP in Turmoil: Wike’s loyalists strike back, suspend Damagum, appoint new National Chairman
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has effectively split into two rival factions following a dramatic showdown in Abuja, as loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and five other key members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, declared that the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, had been appointed as the new Acting National Chairman.
Anyanwu, speaking with a tone of finality, said the decision became necessary after what he described as “gross incompetence, financial misconduct, and contempt of court judgments” allegedly committed by Damagum.
“Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary and National Organising Secretary, who have the responsibility of monitoring everything, and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended. On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.”
The faction also announced the suspension of five other senior party officers, including National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, National Financial Secretary Daniel Woyenguikoro, National Youth Leader Sulaiman Kadade, and Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo.
According to Anyanwu, the affected officers were found culpable of various acts of “indiscipline, unauthorized statements, and financial irregularities,” and are to appear before the Disciplinary Committee within 30 days.
“They are to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party,” he declared.
The development marks a new and dangerous phase in the PDP’s deepening internal war, as the Wike-backed faction and the Damagum-led establishment now operate as parallel leadership structures within the party.
In a counter move earlier on Saturday, the Damagum-led NWC had announced the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu himself, the National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other officials aligned with Wike, a decision that further underscores the widening gulf within the opposition party.
Political observers now describe the crisis as the worst internal rupture since the PDP’s founding in 1998, with fears that the lingering leadership feud could cripple the party ahead of the 2027 elections.”
