PDP Governors Deadlocked Over Damagum’s Leadership, Meeting Ends Without Resolution

The meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors held on Monday to resolve the fate of the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, ended in a deadlock, with no agreement reached after several hours of deliberation.

The closed-door meeting, which commenced at 5 p.m. and lasted until just before 10 p.m., was called to address the deepening internal crisis within the party. This crisis has led to the suspension of several members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including Damagum himself.

According to sources, the governors were sharply divided over whether Damagum should continue in his role as acting National Chairman. Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) were in support of Damagum retaining his position, at least temporarily.

On the opposing side, several governors, including Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), the chair of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and Pastor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), insisted that Damagum should step down and revert to his original role as Deputy National Chairman (North). They argued that the North Central zone should be allowed to complete the tenure of the suspended chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from Benue State.

The deadlock has deepened the division within the party, as some governors remain undecided on the issue. A source close to one of the governors, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that most of the governors favored following the party’s constitution, which stipulates that the position of national chairman should revert to the zone from which the previous chairman originated.

The ongoing leadership struggle has created significant friction among PDP governors and the NWC, resulting in factional lines emerging within the party. At the core of the crisis is the battle over who should fill the vacant substantive National Chairman position left by Ayu’s suspension.

Damagum, who hails from Yobe State, has been acting as chairman, but North Central stakeholders have been pushing to replace him with someone from their region to finish Ayu’s term. This effort has been resisted by Damagum’s supporters, leading to a standoff within the party.

Despite Damagum’s suspension alongside other top party officials—such as National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN)—he continues to hold sway in certain factions. Meanwhile, a factional chairman claims to have taken over the reins of the party.

As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the PDP governors are expected to continue their discussions in Ondo State today, where they will attend the official flag-off of the PDP’s governorship campaign. There is also speculation that the governors may push for all suspended NWC members to step down as part of an effort to amicably resolve the leadership tussle.

The next critical juncture for the party will be the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, slated for October 24, where the issue of the party’s leadership is expected to take center stage once again.