Despite multiple meetings and consultations, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to grapple with how to address the situation surrounding its embattled acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
The latest developments came after a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where members expressed growing frustration with the state of affairs within the party, particularly under the current leadership.
The BoT members reiterated their dissatisfaction with the failure of the National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, accusing the delay of eroding the trust and confidence of party members.
They also expressed concerns that the party appeared to be under the control of certain interests, weakening its overall position.
During the meeting, news broke that Eriethake Ibori-Suenu, a PDP House of Representatives member from Ethiope, Delta State, had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ibori-Suenu, the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, was seen as a significant loss for the party, and many in the BoT attributed the defection to the alleged ineptitude of the current NEC, particularly Damagum’s leadership.
This triggered further calls for Damagum’s removal.
Senator Ahmed Makarfi, a former acting PDP national chairman and current BoT Secretary, played a key role in de-escalating tensions during the meeting, which became heated as the discussion progressed.
Many BoT members voiced a lack of confidence in Damagum, demanding that the NWC take immediate steps to restore internal unity and adhere to the party’s constitutional provisions, including the zoning of NWC positions.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the BoT called on the NWC to honor its commitment and convene the NEC meeting as scheduled for February 2025.
They emphasized the urgency of resolving the internal conflicts to ensure the party’s future stability, warning that further delays could worsen the party’s already precarious situation.
Additionally, the BoT recommended that the leaders of the North Central Zone convene a meeting to nominate a successor for former national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
Despite the growing pressure, Damagum’s supporters remain confident that he will complete his term, which is set to end in December 2025, as confirmed by a recent court injunction.
One of his backers, speaking anonymously, insisted that Damagum is not afraid of a potential NEC meeting in February, as some believe.
The supporter further stated that even if Damagum is no longer acting national chairman, he is prepared to continue in his role as Deputy National Chairman (North).
Damagum assumed the acting chairmanship after Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s departure, in accordance with the PDP Constitution.
However, his leadership has faced opposition, particularly from supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who see Damagum as aligning with the interests of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
Wike, who remains at odds with Atiku and his camp, is blamed by many for the party’s loss in the 2023 presidential election, further complicating the leadership crisis within the PDP.
