As the ongoing internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP continues to gain momentum, there seems to be no end as sight over who controls the leadership of the party with a meeting of the party’s governors not making a headway.
An emergency meeting of governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held via Zoom on Monday, concluded without a final resolution, with discussions scheduled to continue today, Tuesday.
A national officer of the party disclosed, “The meeting started around 5 pm, but they could not finish today (Monday). They will resume tomorrow (Tuesday).” Today’s talks are expected to take place in Ondo State, where the governors will also attend the official flag-off of the PDP’s governorship campaign.
Monday’s meeting, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, was convened to address the escalating internal crisis plaguing the party. The primary issue discussed revolved around the position of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, whose continued stay in office has created divisions among the governors.
A spokesperson for one of the governors revealed that most party members favor upholding the PDP’s constitution, specifically the clause requiring the national chairmanship to return to the zone of the previous chairman’s origin—in this case, Benue State, where former chairman Iyorchia Ayu hails from.
The attempt to remove Damagum has split the PDP governors into two distinct factions. One group, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, comprises seven governors, including Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, all supporting Damagum’s removal.
Opposing this move are three governors, led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who are in favor of Damagum remaining in office. Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State stand with Makinde.
Meanwhile, two governors, Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, have remained neutral, refusing to align with either faction amid the ongoing power struggle.
The crisis deepened on Friday when the PDP’s national leadership splintered into two factions, with one led by Yayari Mohammed and the other by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum. This division followed the suspension of National Legal Adviser Adeyemi Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba by Damagum’s faction of the National Working Committee (NWC).
In retaliation, Ologunagba’s faction announced the suspension of Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu over complaints against their leadership.
As tensions rise within the party, all eyes are now on today’s meeting in Ondo, where PDP governors will attempt to resolve the mounting internal conflicts.
