The internal cracks within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have widened into a full-blown schism, as a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Saturday announced the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and appointed a replacement.
At a news briefing in Abuja, the group, led by the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, declared that the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, would now serve as the new Acting National Chairman.
Anyanwu, a known ally of Wike, said the decision followed what he described as “widespread dissatisfaction” with Damagum’s leadership and the direction of the party.
He also disclosed that five other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were suspended alongside Damagum for alleged misconduct and failure to uphold party discipline.
The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in the PDP’s long-running internal crisis — one that has festered since the aftermath of the 2023 general election, when sharp divisions emerged between loyalists of Wike and supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Just days earlier, the Damagum-led NWC had suspended Anyanwu himself and three other national officers, accusing them of anti-party activities. Saturday’s counter-suspension by the Wike-backed bloc now underscores a deepening battle for control of the once-dominant opposition party.
Political observers say the turmoil reflects not only personal rivalries but also ideological rifts over the PDP’s identity, leadership succession, and regional balance of power ahead of 2027.
Wike’s increasing influence in national politics — especially through his strategic alliance with President Bola Tinubu’s administration — has further strained relations within the party hierarchy.
With parallel suspensions now in place and rival claims to the chairmanship, the PDP appears to be teetering on the edge of a major split.
For many, this moment feels less like an unexpected shock and more like the inevitable climax of months of internal discord — a disaster long foretold.
