Supporters of the acting Mohammed Abdulrahman faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday besieged the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, demanding the removal of the Amb. Illya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC).
The protesters accused the Damagum-led team of gross mismanagement of party affairs and ignoring the realities of the current leadership meltdown. They bore placards and chanted slogans calling for “new leadership now”. Security operatives were deployed in sizeable numbers at the secretariat to forestall possible violence.
The protest comes amid a deepening power struggle within the PDP, where two rival factions have been issuing counter-suspensions against one another. The Damagum camp suspended four national officers for alleged anti-party activities, invoking sections of the party constitution. In swift retaliation, the opposing faction led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu suspended Damagum himself and five other senior officials, accusing them of incompetence and mis-use of funds.
The crisis deepened after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an injunction halting the PDP’s planned national convention. Despite the court order, party operatives insist the convention will go ahead.
Why this matters
- The protest underscores how badly the PDP’s internal governance has crumbled — what began as a leadership dispute has now spilled into the streets of the party’s national headquarters.
- With the 2027 general election in sight, such chaos risks eroding the party’s credibility and organisational coherence.
- The public showdown may trigger defections or further fragmentation, weakening the party’s ability to mount an effective opposition.
What’s next
The two camps appear unwilling to back down: the Abdulrahman faction is pressing for full control, while the Damagum team is trying to assert its legitimacy. Unless there is an urgent mediation effort, the crisis could escalate into legal, disciplinary and even physical confrontations across states.
Full Statement:
“Today’s rally at Wadata Plaza is the voice of the rank-and-file saying enough is enough,” declared one protest leader on behalf of the Abdulrahman camp. “We will not tolerate a gang of unelected officials mis-running our party.” Meanwhile, Damagum’s office responded that the suspensions were valid and in accordance with the party’s constitution, warning that any further disruptive acts would trigger sanctions.
We will monitor developments as the story unfolds.