Tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are nearing a boiling point as key stakeholders apply increasing pressure on the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2024. The PDP’s constitution mandates that NEC meetings occur quarterly, a responsibility Damagum has yet to fulfill amidst ongoing internal party crises.
Frustration is growing among PDP members over his apparent reluctance to authorize the forthcoming NEC meeting. They fear that further delays could breach the party’s constitutional obligations and undermine efforts to stabilize the PDP, which is already grappling with numerous internal challenges.
Although the meeting is listed on the party’s official calendar, party leaders and members express concerns that Damagum may be intentionally stalling. His hesitation, they believe, is linked to political maneuvering over the party’s national chairmanship, which is due to revert to the North Central region following the exit of former chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Sources within the party suggest that while the PDP’s rules dictate that the chairmanship return to the North Central, Damagum, who hails from the North East, is reportedly unwilling to step aside. This resistance has sparked division among PDP governors and party stakeholders. Some are backing Damagum’s continued leadership, while others, allegedly led by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, argue that only a national convention should determine the party’s leadership going forward.
Wike’s faction, which has gained considerable influence within the party, is also advocating for broader reforms beyond the chairmanship issue. This group believes that resolving the leadership question is just one part of a larger set of reforms needed to position the PDP for future elections. Their push for a national convention to address the party’s leadership structure has added further complexity to an already fragile situation.
In addition to the divisions among governors, the National Working Committee (NWC) is also split on whether the NEC meeting should proceed as planned. This reflects the wider leadership crisis that has rocked the PDP in recent weeks, with rival factions issuing suspensions and counter-suspensions as the party’s internal conflict deepens. Some NWC members insist that the NEC meeting is crucial for restoring order and unity within the party.
An anonymous NWC member expressed frustration over the acting chairman’s handling of the situation, emphasizing that Damagum has no choice but to convene the meeting. “Damagum is afraid of convening the NEC, even though it’s on the schedule. But it must be done. The only way to resolve this is for the NEC to meet. The chairmanship belongs to the North Central,” the source told the Abuja City Journal.
According to the same source, a resolution on the chairmanship issue would strengthen the PDP. “If the right thing is done, and the North Central gets its rightful place, the party will come back stronger. Nigerians are watching,” he added.
The stakes are high for the PDP, with many members worried about the impact of these internal conflicts on the party’s electoral prospects in the upcoming national elections. While it remains uncertain whether the NEC meeting will proceed as scheduled, there is a growing sense that the party needs to resolve its leadership crisis sooner rather than later.
Recent efforts to suspend Damagum only served to heighten tensions within the party. His suspension triggered significant reactions from members, further underscoring the internal discord. “The uproar after the suspension was clear—people want Damagum out,” said another NWC member. “The NEC meeting is scheduled, and it should go ahead.”
Observers are watching closely to see how the leadership crisis within the PDP unfolds. For now, all eyes are on October 24, 2024, when the NEC meeting is set to take place. Whether or not it proceeds could determine the future direction of the party—and its chances in the next election cycle.
