JUST IN: PDP National Working Committee in Crucial Meeting Amid Leadership Crisis, Internal Disputes

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is holding a crucial meeting in Abuja, chaired by Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum. The meeting comes amid ongoing internal disputes and leadership tensions within the party.

Damagum has led the party since March 2023, following the suspension of former Chairman Iyorchia Ayu. His tenure has been fraught with controversies, including allegations of anti-party activities and conflicts with party members. In October 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order preventing the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing him until the next national convention in December 2025. The court warned that any attempt to replace him outside the party’s legal framework could disrupt the balance of power between regions.

Despite the judicial protection, Damagum has faced opposition from within the party. In April 2024, about 60 PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives accused him of working against the party’s interests and collaborating with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). One of the vocal critics, Ikenga Ugochinyere, representing Ideato federal constituency, claimed that the PDP’s leadership was “in bed with the APC” and actively working to hand over the party to the ruling government. Further allegations emerged in November 2024, accusing Damagum of holding a secret meeting with President Bola Tinubu, intensifying suspicions about his loyalty to the PDP.

Tensions within the party have also involved PDP governors, with reports indicating that some are opposed to Damagum’s continued leadership. The ongoing disputes highlight the deepening crisis within the party as it navigates internal divisions and legal battles.

Another key issue discussed at the NWC meeting is the position of the PDP National Secretary. On February 12, 2025, the NWC reviewed a memo from the Acting National Chairman regarding the matter. The committee examined court rulings, including a declaratory judgment from the High Court of Enugu and a ruling from the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which affirmed Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the rightful National Secretary of the party.

Following legal consultations and deliberations, the NWC overwhelmingly confirmed Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary in compliance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment. A statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, emphasized that there was no existing court order contradicting the ruling. The statement further noted that the party had commenced the process of formally notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities of its decision.

As the PDP navigates these internal struggles, the party’s leadership remains under scrutiny, with growing concerns over unity and direction ahead of the 2025 national convention.