By Abigail Philip David
The elected governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have scheduled an emergency meeting for Friday in Asaba, Delta State, in an effort to address the ongoing issues affecting the party.
The decision follows a chaotic Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, where tensions escalated after supporters of Senator Samuel Anyanwu assaulted the party’s former Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye.
The emergency summit in Asaba is intended to tackle the internal challenges facing the PDP. Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, remarked that the crisis is exacerbated by party leaders who are supposed to be working towards unity.
In a statement to the BoT in Abuja, Damagum expressed his commitment to convening a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in February, as urged by the PDP Governors Forum and other party organs.
Sources within the National Working Committee (NWC) revealed that the BoT members strongly condemned the attack on Ude-Okoye by supporters of Anyanwu during the BoT gathering. The governors’ summit, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, will focus on the urgent need for the NEC meeting, preparations for zonal congresses, the ongoing National Secretary dispute, and an update from Damagum on the party’s situation.
The PDP has been embroiled in internal strife since the 2023 elections, with Damagum, a close ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, blamed for the unrest. Currently, various party organs—NWC, BoT, and state chapters—are divided, with factions supporting different leaders. Wike, Governor Mohammed, and others continue to exchange harsh words, exacerbating the party’s divisions.
Damagum called the situation unfortunate, accusing some BoT members of contributing to the crisis. He urged leaders to set aside personal ambitions for the sake of the party’s unity and strength.
He added that actions disrupting the zonal congresses could further harm the party’s chances and warned that the focus should remain on strengthening the party’s structure.
BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara voiced his disappointment over the ongoing leadership crisis, emphasizing that personal interests should not take precedence over the party’s well-being. He called for immediate action and stressed the importance of the upcoming NEC meeting.
The BoT’s recent meeting was marked by violence when Ude-Okoye was attacked by Anyanwu’s supporters, despite a court ruling that had affirmed Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary. While the court has since issued a restraining order allowing Anyanwu to remain in office, the situation remains unresolved.
Wabara expressed frustration over the disorder, highlighting the need for leaders to prioritize the party’s unity. After the altercation, Ude-Okoye was allowed to rejoin the meeting, and both he and Anyanwu were recognized as National Secretaries by the BoT. A mediation committee, led by former Minister Tanimu Turaki, was tasked with resolving the conflict.
The ongoing crisis has drawn significant concern, prompting the governors to call the Asaba meeting. The summit, scheduled for Friday to Saturday, will bring together party leaders to discuss the path forward.
Ude-Okoye, speaking to reporters after the incident, denied being forcefully removed, claiming he left to avoid further confrontation. He reiterated that he had assumed office as National Secretary on December 30, 2024.
Notably, several prominent BoT members, including former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, were absent from the meeting. Some leaders, like Governor David Mark, sent their apologies.
In response to the PDP’s internal strife, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the situation as a “drama” and criticized the PDP for its inability to manage its affairs effectively. APC National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, mocked the PDP leadership, advising them to learn from the APC’s approach to politics at their Progressive Institute. He also pointed out that the PDP’s struggles had proven that it was only the prayers of Nigerians that kept the country stable during its 16 years in power.
