PDP vs PDP: The Battle for Control, Survival and the Soul of the Opposition
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By: IDNN Politics Intelligence Unit
This is no longer politics as usual. It’s war with party flags.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once the behemoth of Nigeria’s political landscape, is now at risk of implosion — not from outside opposition, but from internal sabotage, power tussles, and a festering crisis that’s exploded over control of its National Executive Committee (NEC).
The epicentre? A brewing showdown set for June 30. The outcome? A possible party split that could render the PDP unfit for 2027.
THE TRIGGER: NEC OR NOTHING
It began with Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum unilaterally announcing the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary and postponing the 100th NEC meeting.
But that move detonated an internal rebellion.
Led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, 11 National Working Committee members rejected the suspension of NEC, calling it unconstitutional and a betrayal of the party’s democratic principles.
“No one — not Damagum, not Wike — can override NEC,” declared one senior NWC member.
“What we’re seeing is a hijack attempt. This isn’t leadership, it’s desperation.”
ENTER WIKE: THE KINGMAKER TURNS FIRESTARTER
At the centre of the storm is Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister and PDP’s most powerful shadow figure. Once the party’s cash machine and war chest, Wike is now seen as both a kingmaker — and a potential undertaker.
His influence is evident in Damagum’s posture and in the faction pushing for Anyanwu’s return, despite fierce legal and political resistance.
And when Wike took to the mic during a project commissioning in Abuja, he didn’t hold back:
“You’re embarrassing this party. You don’t know the law. If you want to learn, come to us — we’ll teach you.”
The dig was aimed directly at Damagum, and by extension, anyone daring to wrest PDP’s command from Wike’s hands.
COURTS, CONSTITUTIONS, AND CONFUSION
While Damagum’s camp cites a Supreme Court ruling backing Anyanwu, Makinde’s camp says NEC resolutions override all unilateral decisions.
Even INEC, caught in the political crossfire, has refused to recognize any NEC meeting notice not signed by both the Chairman and Secretary — a constitutional trap that now paralyses the PDP unless the crisis is resolved.
As it stands, both sides are gearing up for June 30 — one to convene NEC, the other to block it.
WHAT’S REALLY AT STAKE?
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PDP’s 2027 strategy risks fragmentation.
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Legal disputes may cripple the party’s ability to run valid primaries or conventions.
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Internal power-sharing agreements are dead.
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The party’s national reputation is at rock bottom — again.
With high-stakes FCT elections and national realignments on the horizon, the PDP can no longer afford performative reconciliation. It needs structure, direction, and constitutional fidelity.
ANALYSIS: WHO’S WINNING?
Nobody. Not yet.
Makinde’s bloc controls the majority of the NWC — the mechanics.
Wike’s bloc controls Damagum — the message.
The judiciary is the unseen hand — The dark horse
But the real loser is the PDP brand.
Once considered Nigeria’s most organized opposition, it now resembles a chaotic federation of parallel power bases — each more interested in short-term control than long-term survival.
FINAL WORD:
PDP’s war over NEC is not just a party affair. It’s a national warning shot.
If the opposition collapses under its own weight, democracy loses its balance.
The June 30 meeting — or its absence — could define Nigeria’s political future more than any election in 2025
