Wike and Bauchi Governor’s Feud Splits PDP Leadership

Internal disagreements within the PDP, driven by Wike and Bala Mohammed’s feud, lead to factional divisions in the party’s National Working Committee

The internal strife within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened, following a clash between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. The disagreement has split the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), exacerbating a crisis that has lingered since the removal of former chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

The ongoing feud, rooted in power struggles within Rivers State, has factionalized the NWC. The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has come under fire from members aligned with opposing sides of the dispute, with growing calls for his resignation.

Tensions escalated when Damagum and other NWC members aligned with Wike endorsed controversial congresses in Rivers State and postponed the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting from September to October. This decision, coupled with Wike’s ongoing battle with current Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has pushed PDP governors to rally behind Fubara, further inflaming the crisis.

On August 31, Wike issued a stern warning to PDP governors not to interfere in Rivers State matters, threatening to disrupt activities in their states if they did. The PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bala Mohammed, criticized Wike’s threats as reckless and uncalled for.

A significant blow to Wike’s faction came during the local government elections held in Rivers State on October 5, where 22 out of 23 newly elected chairmen were from the Action Peoples Party, signaling a defeat for Wike’s camp.

On October 10, the crisis took a new turn when the NWC suspended the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), both of whom opposed Wike’s control over party matters in Rivers State. This decision, supported by Wike’s allies within the NWC, marked a deepening of the factional divide.

However, Ologunagba’s faction retaliated swiftly, announcing the suspension of Damagum and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, for alleged disloyalty to the party. They appointed National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new acting National Chairman, further heightening tensions within the party.

A senior NWC member from Bala Mohammed’s camp revealed that the real cause of the divisions extended beyond Rivers State. He cited ongoing criticisms of Damagum’s handling of party funds, which had been a major point of contention for Ologunagba and Ajibade.

In response to the internal chaos, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has called for calm. BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara urged the warring factions within the NWC to reconcile and restore unity within the party.

Wabara emphasized the BoT’s commitment to fostering peace and stability within the PDP, as the leadership battle continues to threaten the party’s cohesion.