- The raging leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a boiling point, with rival factions loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike holding separate high-stakes meetings today.
At the heart of the dispute is the contentious reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary and the fate of the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, originally scheduled for June 30.
While Makinde’s camp—including Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa)—insists that the NEC must proceed as planned, Wike’s faction, backed by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), has declared the meeting postponed in favour of an “Expanded National Caucus.”
Eleven of the 18 National Working Committee (NWC) members issued a statement on Sunday night reaffirming that the NEC meeting is binding under the PDP Constitution and cannot be cancelled unilaterally. They also warned that any attempt to override NEC resolutions could plunge the party deeper into crisis.
In a counter-move, Damagum announced Anyanwu’s return and insisted the new caucus session will chart a path for reconciliation, with invitations extended to selected stakeholders only.
The showdown has sparked threats from the South East PDP leadership to review its membership in the party if the zone’s position on the National Secretary role is ignored.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) mocked the PDP, describing the turmoil as evidence that the main opposition party is unfit to govern.
With both camps mobilizing supporters, today’s duelling meetings are widely seen as a battle for the soul of the PDP—and may determine whether Nigeria’s largest opposition party can survive yet another bitter internal war.
Tensions peaked in Abuja on Monday morning as heavily armed police officers surrounded the national headquarters of the PDP, effectively halting all activities at the party’s Wadata Plaza office.
The unexpected security presence is believed to have been deployed to prevent three major meetings scheduled for the day—the National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BoT), and Caucus sessions—from holding.
Party leaders, including governors and elders who began arriving in the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend, were shocked to find barricades and police personnel stationed at every entry point to the building. All roads leading to the party office were blocked, with officers turning back vehicles and barring entry.
PDP staff and stakeholders were unable to access the premises, raising critical questions about who ordered the deployment. A BoT member, speaking anonymously, disclosed that he contacted the National Chairman and other top officials, all of whom denied any involvement in summoning the security operatives.
He alleged that allies of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, may be behind the siege—suggesting it was a preemptive move to stop the party from taking disciplinary action against members accused of undermining PDP’s interests.
