Ibadan – It’s a tense Monday morning in Abuja’s Wadata Plaza as Nigeria’s oldest political party—the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—gathers for what should be its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. But beneath the protocol and pomp, this meeting functions less like a routine gathering and more like the latest battlefield in a clash of interests.
Two camps, one crisis
On one side, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, supported by influential figures like FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Governor Bala Mohammed, Caleb Mutfwang, and Adamu Fintiri, insists that because INEC recognises Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, the NEC should be paused and substituted with an Expanded National Caucus meeting today.
Opposing them is Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, backed by Governors Seyi Makinde, Peter Mbah, Ademola Adeleke and 11 NWC members. They hold fast to party rules, insisting Section 31(3) of the PDP constitution makes today’s NEC inviolable. That resolution, they argue, was unanimously reached at the 99th NEC on May 27, 2025.
Behind the power moves
At the heart of the dispute is control—who signs NEC notices, who steers internal communication, and who shapes convention outcomes (due August 28–30). Anyanwu’s seat is now symbolic of broader command and influence.
Damagum’s faction claims party procedure and INEC recognition as justification, portraying their approach as pragmatic compliance . But Arapaja’s side calls the move not only unconstitutional but downright dangerous, warning it sets a precedent that could erode party democracy.
Echoes from PDP history
This schism is sadly familiar. In the 2015 wake of losing the presidency, PDP has wrestled with recurring disputes: zoning quarrels, court skirmishes, and disjointed NEC sessions. Today’s rupture mirrors past power wrangles—from Yar’Adua to Jonathan—and the warning signs are clear: without unity, the party risks becoming a weak echo of its past self.
Wider implications—and missing voices
What’s also striking is how female voices—once central to PDP’s progressive claims—are silent amidst this fray. Despite rising tensions, there’s scarcely mention of any women shaping the dialogue or solutions. Their absence from the power table is a glaring testament to how far the party has drifted from its inclusive beginnings.
What hangs in the balance
Constitutional integrity vs. expediency: Will SOPs prevail, or will short‑term convenience win?
Leadership legitimacy: Which camp claims the authority to steer the party to August?
Electoral readiness: PDP must now prove it can handle internal dissent if it hopes to credibly challenge ahead of 2027.
As Bukola Saraki warned, unless resolved, divisions could seep deeper—leading even to defections or defections to APC.
Final word
Today isn’t just another meeting. It’s a watershed moment for PDP. If NEC proceeds constitutionally, it may restore some semblance of order. If not, the party risks marqueeing itself as a cautionary tale of factionalism over faith in democratic process.
Nigeria’s democracy deserves a confident opposition. But confidence is born from unity and principle—not from contested caucuses or court‑filtered directives.
Let’s hope the PDP chooses coherence over chaos.
Adebisi Ogunjimi is a Media Practitioner based in Ibadan and can be reached on [email protected]
