PDP Power Struggle:Wike Atiku Camps Clash Over Damagum's Fate

PDP Power Struggle:Wike Atiku Camps Clash Over Damagum's Fate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is bracing itself for another intense power struggle as the camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike return to the drawing board ahead of the rescheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on November 28.

Wike has vowed to continue challenging Atiku, Obi, and some PDP governors opposed to him and President Bola Tinubu. To safeguard its string of court victories, Wike's loyalists have been holding strategic meetings in Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

The NEC meeting's postponement benefits Wike's camp, allowing Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum to remain in office. However, Atiku's camp is regrouping after Dr. Iyorchia Ayu's resignation and the stalled replacement process.

A Federal High Court decision restraining NEC and the Board of Trustees from removing Damagum has complicated matters. Party insiders reveal that a team of lawyers, led by two prominent Senior Advocates of Nigeria, is appealing the court order.

The November 28 NEC meeting offers a glimmer of hope for resolving the intra-party crisis. However, the Atiku camp remains determined to challenge Damagum's continued acting chairmanship.

"The shift in the date for the NEC meeting was a win-win for everyone," a party source said. "Irrespective of which camp any of us belongs to, no one wants to be blamed if anything goes wrong with the Ondo State governorship election."

Meanwhile, the North-Central zone is adamant about producing Ayu's replacement, citing Section 47 (6) of the party's constitution. Former PDP National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan emphasized that the zone will not relinquish its demand.

"The PDP is a party built on the rule of law as enshrined in our constitution," Ologbondiyan stated. "Our party is the only institution that has survived this long as a political party. We have always bounced back even when some people think we are finished."

Aspiring candidates from Benue State, including former governor Gabriel Suswam and businessman Conrad Utaan, have expressed interest in the PDP National Chairmanship.

Utaan emphasized his commitment to leading the party with humility and sacrifice. "It's not about who's interested in the North Central or not. It's about the law and interpretation of the law," he said.

With tensions escalating, PDP leaders must navigate complex legal, moral, and political considerations to resolve the intra-party power struggle. The outcome will significantly impact the party's future and its stance in Nigerian politics.

As the battle for control intensifies, one thing is clear: the fate of the PDP hangs precariously in the balance.