PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike’s Faction Suspends Damagum, Others

PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike’s Faction Suspends Damagum, Others

The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a more dangerous turn as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, along with other key officials. This development, which follows months of simmering tensions, exposes the deep fractures within the opposition party and raises serious questions about its unity, credibility, and ability to function as a viable political alternative in Nigeria’s democracy.

For months, the PDP has been walking on political eggshells. Since the 2023 general elections, when the party suffered a disappointing loss amid internal sabotage and power tussles, its leadership has failed to present a unified front. The battle lines have been clearly drawn between the Wike-led faction mainly composed of members of the “G5” governors and loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate. The suspension of Damagum now signals an escalation from rhetoric to open confrontation.

At the heart of the crisis lies the question of leadership legitimacy and control of the party’s structure. Wike and his allies have repeatedly accused Damagum of bias toward Atiku’s camp and of failing to enforce internal discipline. Conversely, Atiku’s supporters see Wike’s camp as bent on hijacking the party to serve personal ambitions and regional dominance. The mutual distrust between both camps has turned what should have been a healthy debate over direction and reform into a bitter power struggle that threatens to destroy the PDP from within.

This new round of suspensions coming from a faction rather than the party’s recognized National Working Committee (NWC) poses serious constitutional and legal implications. Under the PDP’s constitution, only the NWC has the authority to discipline or suspend high-ranking members. Therefore, this move by the Wike camp risks deepening the legitimacy crisis, as each side continues to question the authority of the other. The result is a divided party speaking with multiple voices, each claiming to represent the “true PDP.”

For a party that once prided itself as Africa’s largest and most organized political institution, the current disarray is both tragic and ironic. Instead of rebuilding after the 2023 defeat, the PDP seems determined to self-destruct. The Nigerian public, particularly those who still believe in the ideals of a strong opposition, are watching with dismay as internal egos and personal interests overshadow collective responsibility.

The implications go beyond the PDP itself. A weak and divided opposition emboldens the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reducing the checks and balances essential for democratic accountability. Nigeria’s democracy thrives on competition of ideas, leadership, and policy direction. When the main opposition collapses into factions, the nation suffers from the absence of credible alternatives and constructive criticism.

The time has come for the PDP elders, governors, and founding members to intervene decisively. The party must either reconcile its warring factions through an open, transparent convention or risk permanent fragmentation. The continued silence or inaction of the Board of Trustees and the party’s National Executive Committee will only embolden the feuding camps.

If the PDP cannot put its house in order, it will forfeit the moral right to criticize the government it seeks to replace. Rebuilding trust, enforcing discipline, and prioritizing collective interest over personal ambition are the only paths to survival. The longer the party remains divided, the dimmer its chances in the 2027 general elections.

In the end, the PDP’s fate now rests on whether its leaders can rise above ego and ambition to rescue the party from implosion. The suspension of Damagum may mark only the beginning of a deeper crisis unless reason and reconciliation prevail.