Ondo election: Cracks appear in PDP last-minute push for unity

In this piece, Muhammed Lawal examines the fragile reconciliation efforts within the Peoples Democratic Party and explores the potential impact these internal dynamics could have on the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election, especially at a time when the party’s unity hangs in the balance

The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, said a house divided against itself is destined to crumble. Recent developments in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party have reinforced the validity of this aphorism.

The strife in the party, now targeted at its embattled acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, mirrors the dramatic twists surrounding the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Damagum, who previously served as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), assumed the role of acting National Chairman after a court-ordered suspension of the party’s former National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March 2023.
Like some of his predecessors, Damagum has survived several attempts to unseat him. In the lead-up to the April 18, 2024 National Executive Committee meeting, discussions about whether Damagum should retain his position or be replaced became a central issue among party officials.

Rift begins

The dissent escalated when some PDP members criticised Damagum for failing to implement necessary reforms. The situation reached a boiling point when 60 members of the House of Representatives called for his resignation, demanding a new chairman from the North Central region.
In response, the House minority caucus, led by Kingsley Chinda, distanced itself from this faction, declaring it unrecognised within parliament. This division was evident during a recent gathering of the PDP caucus, where lawmakers were sharply divided between those supporting Damagum and those opposing his continued tenure.

As a result, the primary objective of the pre-NEC meeting—to endorse Damagum with a vote of confidence by lawmakers aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike—encountered obstacles and did not proceed as planned.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Working Committee praised the dedication and efforts of the acting National Chairman in stabilising and revitalising the PDP as Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Removal plots

Tension, however, heightened in June when the PDP filed a counter motion to the Federal High Court in Abuja’s order, which had prevented it from removing Damagum.

This came after the court, on May 3, issued an injunction barring the party from appointing, selecting, or nominating anyone to replace him until the motion on notice was heard and decided.

In response, the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), revealed in an interview that the party had filed a countermotion.
He stated, “We don’t need to appeal because the case has not been decided. What they obtained is an interim injunction, but the case will be heard on its merits on July 1st. The party has filed its counter. The major point in the party’s counter is that we urge the court to dismiss the case because it is an internal affair of the party.”

As the NEC meeting of the PDP, scheduled for October 24, approaches party members, especially from the North Central region, have continued pushing for Damagum’s replacement, insisting that his successor must come from their zone.

They cited Section 47(6) of the PDP’s constitution, which stipulates that if a vacancy arises in any party office, the executive committee must appoint someone from the same region as the departing officer to complete the term.

A disagreement arose between two prominent PDP members over which zone should produce Damagum’s replacement. Segun Showunmi, a 2023 governorship aspirant in Ogun State, disagreed with the party’s former National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on the matter.

While Ologbondiyan argued that the replacement should come from the North Central, Showunmi insisted the position was not exclusive to the zone.

Meanwhile, North-East governors within the PDP endorsed Damagum to remain in office until the tenure of the ousted former National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, officially expires.

However, the North Central leadership began seeking a replacement for him ahead of the 99th NEC meeting.
Adding to the internal discord, PDP stalwart, Dino Melaye, accused Damagum; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, of ruining the party.

In a scathing statement, Melaye wrote, “End of the road for PDP as Damagum, Bature, and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party. We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time.”

Damagum unshaken

In response to the ongoing pressures, the acting national chairman, confidently asserted that no one could force him to step down from his position.

He said, “Let me send a message to everyone talking about Damagum this, Damagum that – I cannot be intimidated. The more you mention me, the more popular I become.”

He maintained that the criticisms had boosted his profile, and he was even contemplating running for the presidency.

As tensions escalated within the party, Damagum postponed the National Working Committee meeting in September, amid growing friction between Wike and the PDP Governors’ Forum over the status of the Rivers State Party congresses.
This tension has been exacerbated by the ongoing political conflict between Wike and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The PDP governors have taken a clear stance, supporting Fubara and insisting that, as the sitting governor, he should be recognised as the leader of the party in the state.

The governors’ position angered Wike, who warned them to stay out of Rivers State affairs, threatening to “put fire” in their states if they intervened.

In response, the governors condemned Wike’s threat, labelling it irresponsible, and reiterated that their stance remained unchanged, reminding him that during his tenure as Rivers governor, he was similarly recognised as the state’s party leader.

Govs divided

The party’s internal crisis deepened when 13 PDP state governors met to discuss the emergence of a factional PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Yayari Mohammed, and the growing calls for Damagum’s removal.

This move has divided the governors, with the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, leading six others in the push to oust Damagum, who is seen as Wike’s ally.
These governors are Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom).

On the opposing side, four governors, led by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, aligned with Wike, resisting Damagum’s removal.

This group includes Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba). Meanwhile, two governors—Peter Mbah of Enugu and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara—have remained neutral.

Ondo election truce

The party has begun reconciliation efforts, which some view as more of a tactical manoeuvre than a sincere truce, with the primary goal of securing victory in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election.

Recall that the PDP lost to the APC in the September 21 Edo State governorship election. The party is believed to have moved to resolve the conflicting issues within the party for a better outcome in the Ondo State poll.

Sequel to this, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Mohammed, announced that the internal conflicts had been resolved. The Bauchi State governor, while corroborating this claim, reassured that there was no longer a faction within the PDP National Working Committee, noting that operations had returned to normal under Damagum until the governors and other party bodies met to address all outstanding issues.
He stated, “I want to inform you, on behalf of the PDP Governors Forum, Chairman of the Senate Caucus, and the representative of the BoT, that we had a family meeting and wish to reaffirm that there is no faction in the PDP. All these suspensions that you heard about – the governors, the NWC, the Caucus of the National Assembly, and the BoT – have resolved everything. There is no faction, and everything has reverted to the status quo under the acting Chairman Damagum, pending the time when the governors and other organs of the party will sit down and resolve all the issues.”

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Speaking on the matter, the Lagos State PDP Vice Chairman, Tai Benedict, said the party had been facing a lot of problems under the acting national chairman. He added that if the conflicts could be resolved by October 24, it would benefit the party.

Benedict stressed that if Damagum resigned, it would be good for his future.

“It is not going to be as easy, as we are thinking. We have a lot of things at stake. This crisis must be resolved. We are having a governorship election in Ondo State. At the end of the day, if this issue is not resolved, it is going to be a problem. Also, next year, we shall be having zonal elections, and this issue will affect that too,” he explained.

He added that PDP governors had been in Ondo State for days to flag off the campaign, unlike in Edo, where some of them did not attend.

Benedict stated that the Edo State governor was not on good terms with the FCT minister.
“We can’t talk about PDP today and leave Wike out of it. Wike has been the one controlling PDP since 2015, or thereabouts. I want to give him credit for that, but that doesn’t mean he should be God. He has transformed himself into God, which is why we have been having problems in the PDP in recent years. I believe that if Damagum is eventually removed or resigns voluntarily, it will be the beginning of a good thing for the PDP. I know that Damagum is being used by Wike,” he stated.

Also sharing his thoughts, the Abia State PDP Vice Chairman and Acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, noted that the issues in the party were being resolved. He stated that the national chairman was in his office doing his work, and all other officers of the party were doing theirs, adding that they were working together on the Ondo State election and other national policy matters.

He said, “The PDP has a constitution; we don’t act arbitrarily. We are guided by that constitution and also by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We had a chairman who was elected during the party congress, in the person of Iyorchia Ayu, and when he had a problem that made him step down, we looked at the constitution, and that was how Damagum came in. There is no need for Damagum to resign. Those who don’t want Damagum should wait until the next congress. There is no basis for him to resign.”

He further stated that the issue concerning Rivers State was not something that anybody could handle individually.

Amah added, “The only body that has the power to deal with that issue is the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the PDP. It is only at that point that both sides of the story will be heard completely.

“The party can resolve issues of this nature. As time goes by, we will be able to overcome the Wike and Damagum issues and move on to face the challenges of the 2027 General Elections. We are doing everything possible to make sure we win the Ondo State election.”