The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified as fresh disagreements rock the National Working Committee (NWC) barely weeks before the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
At the centre of the dispute is the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party and the appointment of a caretaker committee.
The NWC, under Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, announced the dissolution of the state executive loyal to Governor Pastor Umo Eno, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba communicated the decision, citing constitutional breaches and claims that the Akwa Ibom PDP structure had aligned with the APC.
But National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu countered the move, declaring it illegal. He insisted that there was no formal NWC meeting to ratify the dissolution and argued that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the constitutional power to dissolve a state chapter.
In a strongly worded letter dated October 1, Anyanwu dismissed Ologunagba’s announcement as “null and void,” urging the Akwa Ibom executive to continue its duties in line with the 2017 PDP Constitution (as amended).
Responding, Ologunagba maintained that the 607th NWC meeting—summoned by the national chairman and attended by 16 of 19 members—lawfully approved the dissolution. He said Damagum acted within his constitutional powers after Anyanwu refused to issue a notice for the meeting.
He accused Anyanwu of pursuing personal interests, stressing that “a national secretary cannot nullify the decision of the NWC simply because he was absent.”
Backing the NWC’s action, PDP National Vice Chairman (South-South) Chief Emmanuel Ogidi defended the creation of caretaker committees in both Akwa Ibom and Cross River. According to him, the move was necessary to stabilise the party following defections and internal manipulation of structures.
The crisis further reflects ongoing tensions between Damagum’s camp and that of former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, where Anyanwu is a key ally.
Last month, Wike’s group—including several former governors, lawmakers, and party chieftains—issued a communique warning that the upcoming convention could be invalidated if their demands were ignored. Their conditions included:
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Fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, in line with court rulings.
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A new South-East Zonal Congress.
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Respect for the court-upheld outcome of the South-South Congress in Calabar.
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Proper conduct of Ekiti local government congresses.
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No micro-zoning of offices beyond NEC’s zoning formula.
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Retention of the national chairmanship in the North-Central, as agreed at the 2021 convention.
Speaking earlier on television, Wike cautioned that unresolved internal disputes could derail the convention altogether. While confirming that the Ibadan venue was not in contention, he emphasised that “the real issue is whether the party has addressed the problems leading up to the convention.”
