BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF PDP: ATIKU, WIKE CAMPS BRACE UP FOR SHOWDOWN

Leaders and Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party have started spirited mobilization of men and resources towards the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meetings to determine who controls the party in the run-up to the 2027 elections.

The major gladiators appear to be the party’s presidential candidate in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

The rivalry between the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election and the former Rivers State governor was a fallout of the party’s presidential primary and the subsequent selection of the presidential running mate of the party.

Atiku’s refusal to pick Wike as the vice-presidential candidate after defeating him in the presidential primary drove a wedge into their relationship and created cracks in the PDP.

Wike consequently worked against his party and the election of the former vice president by throwing his support behind the then-candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu.

The PDP acting National Chairman Ambassador Ilya Damagun and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu are Wike’s allies, and the Atiku camp is not favourably disposed towards them.

The National Secretary of the party, Senator Sam Anyanwu; the party’s National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih; the Deputy National Chairman, South, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, among others, are perceived as Wike loyalists.

The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who is also a member of the party’s NEC, is also a close ally of the FCT minister.

The NWC led by the acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, had been reluctant to summon the NEC meeting due to the continued political feud between the Atiku and Wike camps.

Party sources said the various interest groups in the party have withdrawn into tactical mode, with meetings and discreet consultations in top gear

The North Central zone of the party is already pushing for one of its own to be made national chairman to serve out the term of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who was forced out of the position soon after the party’s loss in the 2023 election.

Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has already declared his ambition for the position.

In series of meetings with stakeholders in his state, Suswam said Benue should be allowed to complete Ayu’s tenure since he (Ayu) is also from Benue.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Niger State Governor Senator Babangida Aliyu are also believed to be interested in the position.

Pro-Wike forces are seeking to entrench their influence in the party by pushing for the confirmation of Damagum as National Chairman and retention of Anyanwu as National Secretary until the next convention.

Some party members, especially from the Atiku camp, are pressing for sanctions against Wike and his allies for allegedly working against the party in the 2023 elections.

Most of the PDP governors also believe that the party needs a total overhaul and that holding NEC without putting their acts together on what to do on the Wike issue and the status of Damagum will not augur well.

Wike was recently lambasted by former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus and the Director-General, PDP-Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo. The tone and timing of the press conference showed clearly what the Atiku people were up to.

There were indications that pressure was mounting on the NWC not to call the NEC meeting earlier because of the fear that it could play into the hands of Wike.

Atiku, who has been out of the country, has now returned ostensibly to prepare for the showdown ahead of the NEC meeting.

One of the issues being raised by Atiku’s camp against the FCT minister was his alleged anti-party activities.

They view his role in the PDP as very suspicious and is also being perceived by his critics in the party as a mole.

Atiku’s camp may call for the suspension of Wike and members of his G-5 governors for alleged anti-party activities.

Another group is however opposed to the suspension of the FCT minister and his allies on the grounds that any disciplinary action will further polarize and weaken the PDP. 

In response to the group, pro-Atiku party leaders ask if it is not better to face the rigour of repositioning the party after Wike and his men than to throw the party into the hands of the APC through Wike and co.

The main opposition party in Nigeria has a decision to make. The stakeholders have to choose between taking hold of their party and building a strong opposition, or allowing proxies of the ruling party take over.

Their decision and actions in the next ten days will determine the survival or otherwise of the People’s Democratic Party.

Political intrigues, horse trading and consultations continue as the NEC and BoT meetings get closer.

The events leading to and the outcome of the PDP NEC  and BoT meetings will have far-reaching consequences on not only opposition politics in Nigeria but the survival of democracy in Africa’s most populous country.

The nation, in deed the world, waits to see what happens to a party once touted as the largest political party in Africa.

The party ruled the country for sixteen years from the inception of this republic in 1999.