Opposition lawmakers within Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have raised concerns over what they describe as a deliberate effort to destabilize the party’s leadership in preparation for the 2027 elections.
The lawmakers alleged that the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, are working together to undermine the PDP’s effectiveness as an opposition force.
During a press briefing held in Akokwa, Imo State, on Sunday, the coalition’s spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, claimed that Damagum and Wike aim to extend Damagum’s tenure to keep the party leadership weak and potentially align the PDP with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. Ugochinyere expressed concerns that this alliance could erode the PDP’s role as a credible alternative to the APC, weakening its influence in the lead-up to the next general elections.
According to Ugochinyere, this alleged scheme involves collaboration with the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and various state chairmen, who, he claimed, have neglected their responsibility to fortify the party’s position and, instead, are complicit in weakening it. He further accused senior PDP figures of forming alliances with APC members, holding undisclosed meetings overseas and making strategic moves that, he contended, serve the APC’s interests.
“Our national leaders are now collaborating with APC ministers and abandoning the people’s interests,” Ugochinyere remarked, adding that these actions have disappointed party members and supporters across Nigeria who expect the PDP to serve as a robust opposition.
Ugochinyere also criticized repeated delays in holding the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which was initially scheduled for August 15. The NEC meeting was expected to discuss and finalize key leadership roles, including the selection of a permanent national chairman from the North-Central region. The lawmaker argued that these postponements have disrupted the party’s internal operations and hindered its ability to prepare effectively for the upcoming elections.
“They continue to find excuses to delay this crucial NEC meeting. This ongoing delay only serves those plotting against the PDP,” Ugochinyere asserted.
As frustrations grow, many party members are questioning the PDP’s commitment to its opposition mandate and its prospects as a unified political entity in the years to come. The reported leadership turmoil has raised concerns about the party’s ability to mount a credible challenge to the APC in 2027.
