Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have moved to take over the party.
The state executives, 12 in total, have taken steps to reassert their authority over the party’s affairs.
Following their first physical meeting of 2025 in Asaba, Delta State, on January 31, the governors agreed that the party’s interests would be best served by taking decisive action to prevent control by individual political figures.
A source familiar with the development, speaking anonymously, stated, “Our governors have come to the realization that their interests and that of the PDP would be better served if they take the party out of the shadows of personality cults.
“The governors were unanimous in their decision to salvage the party’s brand from the damage caused by years of internal strife and power struggles between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.”
The governors reportedly warned Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum to align with the broader party interest or risk being removed.
They also pushed for the immediate swearing-in of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary, in compliance with an Appeal Court ruling, and supported the postponement of the South-South Zonal Congress, a move seen as a setback for Wike’s loyalists.
A PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) member, also speaking anonymously, stated, “Wike’s decision to go ahead with the purported congress in Calabar was a direct challenge to the governors, particularly those from the South-South. They were waiting to see how Damagum and the NWC would respond.”
It should be recalled that Damagum eventually dismissed the Calabar gathering as illegitimate. Following up with the decision, the party set up a seven-member caretaker committee to oversee the zone’s affairs.
While inaugurating the committee, Damagum declared, “I want to use this opportunity to make it clear that, as far as the PDP is concerned, no election has taken place in the South-South. The tenure of the zonal committee has expired, and we still have a few weeks or about a month before conducting the zonal congresses. In the meantime, we found it necessary to set up this caretaker committee.”
Commenting on the development, former PDP National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “I believe that with the few steps taken so far by the NWC, one can sincerely hope that our party is on track to recovery. The setting up of a caretaker committee to prepare the ground for congresses to elect new zonal leaders in the South-South is a step in the right direction.”
Meanwhile, a party stalwart noted that Wike and his allies are unlikely to accept the rejection of their congress without resistance.
Wike despite affirming to be a PDP member, serves as Minister in an APC-led government. His actions and words within the opposition party have led to criticisms over where his loyalty lies.