Atiku vs Wike: PDP Leaders Clash in Abuja Over Lingering Party Woes

The internal crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), deepened further on Tuesday as key figures within the party engaged in a heated exchange over who is to blame for the lingering issues. The clash occurred during a conference titled “Fix PDP To Fix Nigeria” held in Abuja.

The PDP has been embroiled in conflict since its presidential primary, which many believe contributed to its defeat by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election. At the center of the recent debate were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, both of whom were named by different factions as responsible for the ongoing turmoil.

Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, pointed fingers at Wike, accusing him of being a key player in the party’s crisis. Ugochinyere also criticized the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, claiming he has failed to provide the leadership necessary to stabilize the party.

“When I was coming, I saw the slogan ‘Fix PDP to Fix Nigeria.’ It’s a fantastic idea. But before we can fix PDP, we need to address our internal leadership struggles. People are laughing at us as long as we fail to resolve these issues,” Ugochinyere stated. He added, “Wike has taken a job running errands for the APC, so we already know where his allegiance lies.”

However, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, had a different view, blaming Atiku for the party’s woes. Abdullahi refuted claims that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Damagum, was under Wike’s influence, and instead suggested that Atiku was the root cause of the problems.

“We inherited the issues we are dealing with today. Atiku is to blame for our challenges. He left the party during a critical time, only to return and secure the presidential ticket. We all supported him, yet at the eve of the election, five governors were threatening the party, and Atiku’s careless response only worsened the situation,” Abdullahi remarked.

He also criticized the former National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, alleging that his actions further deepened the party’s crisis during the 2023 election cycle.