Yan Nigeria
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently facing one of its most intense internal battles in recent years, as three major power blocs jostle for control of the party’s leadership structure ahead of its crucial National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27 and the national convention in August 2025.
Leading one of the factions is Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State governor.
According to Daily Sun, Wike is aggressively lobbying to reinstate ousted National Secretary Sam Anyanwu, a move aimed at reinforcing his grip on the party ahead of the August convention.
Wike’s ultimate ambition, according to sources, is to ensure that a new National Chairman emerges from within his loyalist circle, further consolidating his influence within the PDP.
He is reportedly leveraging his federal cabinet position and ties with President Bola Tinubu to court several PDP governors, thereby expanding his control.
Opposing Wike’s camp is a reformist bloc led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was appointed by the PDP Governors’ Forum to head a reconciliation committee.
The Saraki panel is tasked with ensuring a successful and credible NEC meeting and laying the groundwork for a transparent convention that does not tilt leadership power to any single individual.
The panel is particularly wary of Wike’s maneuvers, fearing that his influence, if unchecked, could further destabilize the already fractured party. Its goal is to decentralize power and foster inclusivity among all zones.
A third bloc of PDP governors, mostly from the South, has emerged as kingmakers of sorts. These governors maintain a delicate balance — publicly aligning with Wike to gain presidential access while secretly exploring other alliances. This ambivalence has made it difficult for the Saraki committee to secure unified support for any meaningful reform ahead of the NEC meeting.
The indecision of these governors — largely driven by political survival and ambitions — may tilt the balance in favour of whichever bloc can guarantee protection or future political returns.
Impending NEC Decisions and Leadership Restructuring
Commenting on the internal struggle, party chieftain Umar Sani revealed that much of the present crisis stems from the fallout of the last convention, where certain individuals — allegedly loyal to Wike — were allowed to install the National Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Secretary to serve their interests.
With the removal of Iyorchia Ayu, the former chairman, attention now shifts to zoning and replacement procedures.
“We are trying to return the acting chairman [Umar Damagum] to his original role as Deputy National Chairman,” Sani explained.
According to Section 46(6) of the PDP constitution, the North-Central zone — where Ayu hails from — is entitled to produce a new chairman. The process involves the zone nominating three candidates, from which the NEC will choose one as acting chairman, who would then be ratified during a special convention before the main convention in August.
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