PDP Leadership Crisis Deepens as Board of Trustees Launches Peace Initiative
Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has established a six-member reconciliation committee to address growing internal conflicts, as tensions escalate over its national leadership structure.
The party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), under the leadership of former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, has officially endorsed Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as the legitimate acting National Chairman. This development follows a recent incident where a rival faction, led by Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammed and supported by National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, briefly seized control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The newly formed BoT Reconciliation Committee comprises representatives from all geopolitical zones: Ambassador Hassan Adamu (North East) as chairman, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe (South South) as secretary, and members including Chief Ugochukwu Okeke (South East), Senator Zaynab Kure (North Central), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (South West), and Dr Lubna Mohammed Gusau (North West). The committee is expected to submit its report by November 11.
However, the reconciliation effort has already met resistance. National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu dismissed the BoT meeting as illegitimate, claiming that any such gathering without his presence lacks legal standing. Anyanwu also alleged that he faced threats of violence at the party secretariat and accused Damagum of deploying thugs against him.
The crisis comes as the PDP prepares for its national convention scheduled for November 15-16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. A recent ruling by the Oyo State High Court, under Justice A. L. Akintola, has affirmed the party’s right to proceed with the convention, though Anyanwu contests this jurisdiction.
Acting Chairman Damagum acknowledged the challenges of leading an opposition party, particularly noting the difficulty of maintaining unity when “those who once held the highest offices abandon their convictions to seek favour with the centre.” He emphasized his focus on reconciliation over retribution since assuming office after the 2023 elections.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for calm, characterizing the crisis as “a family affair” and expressing confidence in its eventual resolution. He has directed local party leaders to begin mobilization for the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
The BoT, describing itself as “the conscience of the party,” maintains that the reconciliation effort demonstrates maturity rather than weakness, as the PDP works to preserve its position as a leading opposition force in Nigerian politics.
The outcome of this internal conflict could significantly impact the party’s preparations for upcoming electoral challenges and its role in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
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