The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic turn as state chairmen of the party, on Thursday, rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja to dissociate themselves from the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction of the National Working Committee (NWC), while pledging full allegiance to the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.
The meeting, which drew representatives from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, resolved to recognise only the Damagum-led NWC as the authentic leadership of the PDP, describing the Abdulrahman group as an “illegal contraption” seeking to destabilize the party ahead of its much-anticipated national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking after the meeting, the Forum of State Chairmen maintained that the purported suspension of the convention announced by Abdulrahman and his allies has “no constitutional backing,” insisting that preparations for the convention remain on course.
“We, the duly elected state chairmen of our great party, dissociate ourselves from the activities of any faction not recognised by the party’s constitution. The so-called Abdulrahman-led NWC is unknown to us, and we stand solidly behind Ambassador Umar Damagum as our acting national chairman,” the communique read.
⚖️ A Battle Of Legitimacy
The rift within the PDP leadership emerged following the decision of the Damagum-led NWC to suspend the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and several top officers over alleged anti-party activities. In retaliation, the Anyanwu bloc—reportedly aligned with former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike—announced the suspension of Damagum and installed Abdulrahman Mohammed, the North Central Vice Chairman, as acting chairman.
Abdulrahman’s camp swiftly declared the planned Ibadan convention suspended, citing a restraining order from the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), which allegedly bars the PDP from holding any convention until certain internal congresses are resolved.
However, the Damagum faction secured a counter judgment from the Oyo State High Court, granting the party leave to proceed with its convention as scheduled. The conflicting court orders have deepened the uncertainty, but the Damagum camp insists it remains the lawful authority empowered to organise the party’s national congress.
🏛️ BOT And State Chairmen Close Ranks
In a move seen as a major boost for Damagum, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, threw its weight behind the acting chairman while inaugurating a reconciliation committee to calm rising tensions within the opposition.
“The BoT is the conscience of the party, and we cannot allow external or internal forces to hijack its structure. Ambassador Damagum remains the acting national chairman pending the next convention,” Wabara said after a BoT session in Abuja.
Similarly, the Forum of State Chairmen, representing the party’s grassroots command structure, vowed to mobilize delegates to Ibadan for the convention, describing Abdulrahman’s order as a distraction sponsored by “desperate politicians with no stake in PDP’s future.”
⚔️ The Power Play Behind The Crisis
Party insiders believe the ongoing crisis is a proxy war between pro-Wike forces and loyalists of Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate. Analysts say control of the convention—and by extension, the National Working Committee—will determine which faction shapes the PDP’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the Damagum bloc currently enjoys numerical and institutional advantage with state chairmen and the BoT in its corner, the Abdulrahman group wields legal leverage, banking on injunctions and INEC recognition to stall or delegitimise the Ibadan convention.
Sources close to the party hint that both factions have mobilized separate teams to occupy the PDP national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, should the confrontation escalate before the convention date.
📅 The Stakes For 2027
Political observers warn that failure to resolve the impasse could prove disastrous for the PDP’s revival strategy. If the Ibadan convention proceeds successfully, the Damagum leadership could consolidate its hold, restore internal stability, and reposition the party as a credible opposition force. But if the courts halt or nullify the exercise, the PDP may face parallel structures, candidate disputes, and fresh defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
For now, Damagum’s team remains defiant.
“There is no crisis in PDP,” one top party source said. “There is only a group of people uncomfortable with the unity and discipline Damagum has brought.”
The coming days, and the fate of the Ibadan convention, will determine which faction ultimately prevails—and whether Nigeria’s main opposition can rise above its internal contradictions or crumble under them.
🧭 Timeline: PDP Power Struggle
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept 2025 | Damagum suspends National Secretary Anyanwu over alleged misconduct |
| Oct 2025 | Anyanwu faction suspends Damagum, installs Abdulrahman Mohammed |
| Early Nov 2025 | Abuja court halts the Ibadan convention |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Oyo High Court clears PDP to proceed |
| Nov 7, 2025 | State chairmen and BoT publicly affirm support for Damagum |
| Nov 15–16, 2025 | PDP national convention scheduled in Ibadan |