Tension is brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the two rival factions led by National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu prepare to resume activities at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja today.
On Saturday, while Damagum and members of his National Working Committee (NWC) met at the Legacy House in the Maitama area of Abuja, Anyanwu’s group held a parallel meeting at his Wuye office in the capital.
Reliable sources told Daily Trust that both camps are set to return to the PDP national secretariat, popularly known as Wadata Plaza, to operate from the same premises, a development that has heightened anxiety among staff.
A senior party official said, “What we are hearing is that the Anyanwu group also wants to hold a meeting at the party headquarters tomorrow (today).”
He added, “Since the court judgment on Friday, both parties to the case have been holding a series of meetings to fine-tune their strategies. If they (Anyanwu’s group) come to Wadata and Damagum and other NWC members also show up, I don’t know what is going to happen. The staff are very apprehensive because nobody knows how things will play out.”
The source also revealed that “the Wike camp is trying to poach some members of the NWC to their side. They are looking for numbers, and once they are more than the other side, anything can happen.”
Another insider told Daily Trust that despite the court judgment, the Damagum-led NWC and PDP governors are determined to proceed with the November 15–16 elective national convention slated for Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said, “That’s why, even with the court judgment, the party leadership directed members to continue preparations for the convention. If that happens, the Anyanwu group might also hold their own convention. Remember, they’ve always had plans for a parallel convention, it can be reactivated anytime.”
How the two factions emerged
On Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the PDP from holding its planned convention in Ibadan pending compliance with the party’s constitution.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the convention must be suspended until the party aligns its preparations with the PDP Constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
The suit was filed by three PDP officials — Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State chairman), and Turnah Alabah George (South-South zonal secretary) — who argued that preparations for the convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal rules.
Justice Omotosho held that the PDP failed to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing notice for the convention, thereby breaching its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC guidelines by neglecting to give the required 21-day notice to the electoral umpire.
Following the judgment, Damagum convened an emergency NWC meeting on Saturday and announced a one-month suspension of four members loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Those suspended are National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Deputy Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umar Bature.
Addressing journalists after the meeting at Legacy House, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the decision followed a review of the conduct of some NWC members, which the committee described as gross indiscipline.
“The NWC reviewed the activities of some of its members and found that their recent conduct amounted to gross indiscipline and contravention of the constitution of our great party. Consequently, the committee resolved that they be suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action,” he said.
He also announced that Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo would act as national secretary pending the outcome of the disciplinary process, while the Director of Legal Services, Jacob Otorkpa, would oversee the legal department in the interim.
But in a swift counter-move, the suspended members loyal to Wike, led by Anyanwu, also met and announced the suspension of Damagum and five other national officers.
Anyanwu said the decision was taken “to save the party from collapse” and restore credibility to its leadership.
He declared that Damagum was suspended “for incompetence, mismanagement of party funds, and alleged disobedience to court orders.”
According to him, the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, had been appointed acting national chairman in Damagum’s place.
Others he announced as suspended for “complicity in anti-party activities, financial misconduct, and dereliction of duty” were Ologunagba, National Deputy Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, National Financial Secretary Daniel Woyenguikoro, National Youth Leader Sulaiman Kadade, and Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo.
Attempts to stifle opposition must be resisted
– Olawepo-Hashim
Meanwhile, former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has raised the alarm over what he described as a growing threat to Nigeria’s democracy following the Federal High Court judgment that halted the PDP’s forthcoming national convention.
Olawepo-Hashim, who is eyeing the PDP ticket for the 2027 presidential election, alleged that there is a deliberate and coordinated effort by powerful forces to weaken opposition parties and pave the way for a one-party civilian dictatorship, a move he urged Nigerians to resist.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim faulted the Federal High Court’s decision that stopped the PDP national convention earlier scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan. He described the ruling as part of a broader plot to “weaponise the judiciary against multiparty democracy.”
He said, “What happened in court is not an isolated incident. It is a carefully choreographed plot to paralyse the opposition and entrench authoritarian rule.”
Olawepo-Hashim also condemned reports that former Jigawa State governor and PDP founding member, Sule Lamido, was prevented from obtaining the nomination form to contest the position of national chairman.
He described the action as a “blatant assault on internal party democracy” and accused “fifth columnists” within the PDP of working knowingly or unknowingly with forces aligned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to derail ongoing reform efforts in the party.
He said all genuine democrats must rise to defend political pluralism and protect Nigeria from sliding into authoritarianism.
Damagum will end up like Ayu — Fayose
In the meantime, former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose has declared that the PDP is now in a comatose state, saying the party has no hope of recovery or return to power in the near future.
Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on the recent developments within the PDP, Fayose said Damagum would “go the way of his predecessor,” Dr Iyorchia Ayu, if the party continues on its present path.
He said the PDP has been crippled by internal crises and poor leadership, leading to the defection of many governors and key members across the country.
“Do you see any hope of recovery for the PDP? No hope for now. PDP coming back to power soon is unrealistic,” Fayose said.
He appealed to the newly appointed acting chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, to reposition the party, correct the anomalies in state chapters, and ensure that the court-ordered congresses are held across all states before the next national convention.
Fayose also took a swipe at Damagum, accusing him of hijacking the party’s leadership structure.
“Damagum was not supposed to be chairman. He only represented an interest but manipulated the process to become chairman, which caused a lot of confusion in the party. The current NWC are undertakers, they have come to bury the party,” he said.
The former governor stressed that unless the PDP undertakes genuine reforms and returns to its founding principles, it risks total collapse ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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