Ofonime UMANAH
For Nigeria’s leading opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, it is finished. So it seems. Developing events within the party tend to give indications that the final nail may have been pinned on the coffin, dashing any hopes of a possible resurrection of the once vibrant party that has since been confined to a life support machine.
On Tuesday, top leaders of the party were in INEC, Abuja, to resolve the puzzle surrounding the real occupant of the office of national secretary of the party. By the time they came out of the meeting, it was clear that they did not get what they wanted. They wore straight faces.
The party’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun had told reporters that they would revert to them after their meeting in another 24 hours.
Then, 24 hours later, Damagun came up with a shocker: Sam Anyanwu is the national secretary. Period. And with this, the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike wins, beating them black and blue and effectively taking charge of the secretariat of the party.
Damagun, suspected to be Wike’s Man Friday, did not only announce Anyanwu’s return, he had also announced the cancellation of the party’s NEC meeting which had been scheduled to hold on June 30. In place of the NEC meeting, Damagun had announced that the party’s national caucus would meet on that day.
What Damagun did not announce was that he had surrendered the party to Wike. He did not also announce that those who were not comfortable with his decision can go to the hottest part of hell. Damagun did not tell the remnants in the PDP to find their way into the APC if they so desired, or remain in the sinking boat until the final burial day. Damagun did not tell them all of that.
His pronouncements have, expectedly, sparked fresh crisis in the PDP. Some aggrieved members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, are already warming up for a fight. Same Wednesday, they released a position statement, countering what Damagun said early in the week, concerning the pronouncements of Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity secretary, on the planned NEC meeting. Ologunagba had insisted that the NEC meeting would hold as planned, with or without INEC’s nod.
The statement was endorsed Amb. Taofeek Arapaja -Deputy National Chairman (South), Setonji Koshoedo -Ag. National Secretary, Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel-National Auditor, Debo Ologunagba- National Publicity Secretary, Dr Woyengikuro Daniel, -National Financial Secretary, High Chief Ali Odefa-National Vice Chairman (SE), Emmanuel Ogidi-Caretaker Committee Chairman (SS), Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm-National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese-National Vice Chairman (SW).
In it, they said: “The attention of members of the National Working Committee of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a widely reported public statement purportedly signed by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illya Damagum wherein he denounced media interactive session by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba on Sunday 22nd June 2025, where he (Hon. Ologunagba) restated the resolution of National Executive Committee to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025.
“The Acting National Chairman in the said public statement purportedly stated that Hon. Debo Ologunagba was not authorized by the National Working Committee to make his comments on the scheduled 100th NEC meeting.
“It is important to clarify that the comments made by the National Publicity Secretary at that media session with regard to the scheduled 100th NEC meeting is the position of the party and he has the authority and backing of the NWC.
“The scheduling of the 100th NEC meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025 is the unanimous decision reached by NEC at its 99th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025 which was clearly stated in the Communique publicly read by the Acting National Chairman. The NWC and indeed all other Organs, officers, chapters and bodies of the PDP are bound by the decision of NEC which is to hold its 100th meeting on Monday, 30th June, 2025.”
Their position has also attracted condemnations. Some stakeholders in the party see the unfolding drama as a bad omen for the party. For instance, Tonye Barcanista wrote on his X handle that ït is scandalous that the seven individuals entrusted with leadership roles in the NWC would stoop to such childish antics, behaving like novices in Nigeria’s political arena. For emphasis, Article 36 of the PDP Constitution mandates that notices for meetings of all national organs, including the NWC, National Executive Committee, National Caucus, and National Convention, be issued by the National Secretary under the direction of the National Chairman.
“Let me ask, did Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary, issue any notice for an NWC meeting authorizing Debo Ologunagba’s reckless press statement? The answer is a resounding no. The PDP Constitution further establishes Ambassador Umar Damagum, the Acting National Chairman, as the Chief Executive Officer of the party, with full authority over its operations and public statements. Did Damagum approve Ologunagba’s malicious outburst against INEC? Absolutely not. It was entirely proper for the Acting National Chairman to publicly reject Ologunagba’s unauthorized statement, which lacked the backing of the NWC and the party’s leadership.
“This minority faction of the NWC, comprising the aforementioned leprous fingers, is a pitiful group clinging to relevance. Their audacity to elevate Ologunagba’s disgraceful statement above the lawful authority of the Acting National Chairman, who commands the unwavering support of the majority of the NWC, the PDP Governors Forum led by His Excellency Bala Muhammed, the National Assembly PDP Caucus led by Senator Abba Moro and Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda, state chapter leaders, and the overwhelming majority of PDP members, is laughable, pitiful and pathetic. The PDP has resolved this needless drama. This rogue faction must face reality and abandon their futile schemes. The party’s unity and progress under Ambassador Damagum’s leadership are unshakable, and there is nothing they and their sponsors can do about it.”
What awaits the PDP in the next few weeks may not be clear. But today, it is clear that Wike has fought and won and has successfully captured the soul of the PDP, while also working hard to ensure victory for Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC in 2027.
