The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was plunged into a deeper crisis as the faction led by the Federal Capital Territory minister, Nyesom Wike, took over control of the party’s national secretariat.
The faction’s national chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman (national vice chairman) arrived in the party’s national secretariat in Abuja accompanied by his loyalists.
Abdulrahman was declared national chairman by the Anyanwu-led camp of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) which last weekend announced the suspension of the national chairman, Damagum, and some NWC members.
The announced suspension of Damagum was in response to the Damagum-led camp’s earlier suspension of Anyanwu and some National Working Committee members for anti-party activities.
Abdulrahman was named the acting national chairman of the party last week as the leadership crisis threatening the soul of the party worsened with the suspension of the party’s national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, for a period of one month.
The fresh crack within the PDP comes barely days after the Federal High Court in Abuja, halted the party’s national convention billed to hold on the 15 of this month in Ibadan, Oyo State.
While the Anyanwu-led NWC is backed by Wike, the Damagum led NWC is backed by the PDP governors powered by Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde.
Recall that the Court had stopped the party’s convention following a suit by some PDP chairmen who questioned the unconstitutionality of process following pending congresses in some states.
However, the pro-Abdulraham faction, chanting solidarity songs, demanded that the National Working Committee led by Umar Damagum vacate the headquarters immediately.
Damagum and his loyalists were not seen at the premises at the time of Abdulrahman’s arrival.
Earlier, the suspended PDP national secretary, Anyanwu, had arrived at the party national secretariat and gone to his office.
His arrival coincided with that of a group of thugs at the Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
The thugs moved into the office building and were seen moving about in the premises. They intimidated party staff, security personnel, and journalists covering the unfolding crisis.
The protesters, who accused the Damagum-led leadership of mismanaging party affairs, vowed to reclaim control of the secretariat for the Abdulrahman-led faction.
Security operatives were deployed to the area to prevent a breakdown of the law and order.
Speaking to journalists at the office, Abdulrahman promised to unite and reposition the party in preparation for the next general election.
He also assured members of his commitment to work diligently for the party’s progress.
“We are ready to work in the interest of our dear party,” he said.
Anyanwu writes INEC on party leadership
Meanwhile, Anyanwu has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the suspension of Damagum as national chairman.
An acknowledgement copy of the letter signed by Senator Anyanwu was sighted by journalists.
In the letter dated November 3, 2025, with the title: “Resolutions of the PDP NWC Meeting,” Anyanwu’s faction informed INEC of the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman as the acting national chairman of PDP following Damagum’s suspension.
The letter, addressed to the INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, requested that the commission recognise Abdulrahman in his new capacity.
Part of the letter partly reads: “After a meeting of the PDP NWC held on November 1, 2025, it was resolved, among other issues, that Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, the vice chairman, North Central, in line with the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been appointed as the acting national chairman to replace the suspended National Chairman Amb. Umar Illya Damagum.
“This appointment is in accordance with the party’s constitution and we kindly request that all necessary steps be taken to recognise him in his new capacity.”
Pro-Makinde Group Asks BoT To Take Over Party
Meanwhile, a pro-Damagum group, named PDP Concerned Patriots, has decried the crisis rocking the party, saying it was in solidarity with the leadership of Ambassador Iliya Damagum-led National Working Speaking on behalf of the group, former director general of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mike Omeri, called on the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) to take over the running of the party.
“At this juncture, we wish to unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the so-called suspended members of the party who inadvertently claimed to be acting national chairman of the party. This was done without consultation, and the defendants in the case unashamedly converted themselves to plaintiffs in a case they sought to prosecute in the interest of members of the party nationwide. In addition, they invaded the party headquarters, promoting thuggery and attempting to take over the party unlawfully.
“In this regard, we call on members of the PDP Board of Trustees, who are the custodians and conscience of the party, to, as a matter of urgency, step in and find a lasting and remedial solution to the current affairs of the party.
“However, we call on the international community not only to save Christians in Nigeria but also o save democracy from anti-democratic forces and retrogressive elements. We also appeal to President Bola Tinubu to rise to the occasion and defend our democratic tenets and freedoms in Nigeria,” Omeri said.
He decried the attitude and behaviour of some people elected under the platform of the party who had chosen to defect with the mandate of the people to unpopular domains in their respective states and constituencies.
He said their action clearly betray democracy and its pillars in Nigeria, as well as the fortunes and aspirations of the people.
“We wish to assure our leaders that feelers from the grassroots still indicate massive support for the party and its philosophy. They have chosen the path of honour — to remain within and repair what is faulty, rather than abandon the task of nation-building through democracy and party reform,” he added.
I Didn’t Destroy PDP, Others Did – Wike
Meanwhile, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he caused the destruction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that other leaders were responsible.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday night, he attributed the crisis rocking the PDP to the influx of strangers, a lack of leadership, and impunity.
He mocked Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri for accusing him of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to destroy the PDP, which the Bayelsa governor had now completely abandoned.
“I have been a bona fide member of PDP since 1998. I ran for election under the PDP as chairman of the council twice consecutively. I became a governor for two terms.
“Remember when Diri was a PDP, he was one of those who said I was working for APC to destroy the PDP,” he stated.
While denying insinuations that he was destroying PDP, Wike said he should instead be praised for not allowing impunity in the party.
The minister vowed that the issue of impunity would not be allowed to continue in the PDP, saying it was what was killing the party.
He blamed some PDP governors and the embattled national chairman, Umar Damagun, for the party’s ordeal.
“The problem we are having in the PDP is that there is so much money in the hands of governors now. And I blame the President for allowing so much to be in the hands of states, which had never happened before. I think this money should be put towards the development of our states, not to use the money to scatter a party that has given you a name,” he said.
Wike lauded the suspension of the PDP national chairman and welcomed the judgement that stopped the party’s convention in Ibadan slated for November 15, 2025.
He said that the judgement was on the account that those concerned “refuse to carry out their core responsibility in making sure that parties comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the provisions of electoral act, the provisions of any guidelines and their own constitution.
“They are not asking about who the candidates are, who the party officers are. No, no, nobody is interested in that. All we are saying is that the law requires you to give INEC 21 days’ notice for any convention to take place, and the party failed in all of this… that is why impunity is very bad.”
On the consequences of the party’s convention not taking place, Wike asked, “So what is my business? I told them that what you are doing is not lawful. And if you don’t correct it, people will challenge it. And people have challenged it. And the court said it is correct. Why do you want to blame them for telling you to do the right thing?”
Credit: Leadership