Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind a burgeoning effort to remove the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum. It has emerged that Atiku has been in discussions with key members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), urging them to support Damagum’s ouster—a move that has further fractured the already divided party.
At the heart of the division are the 13 PDP state governors, split over whether Damagum should stay or go. Seven of these governors, spearheaded by Bauchi State’s Bala Mohammed, are advocating for his removal, while four others, led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, are staunchly backing his continued leadership. Notably, those in Damagum’s corner are close allies of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who has been at odds with the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Tensions between Atiku and Wike have simmered since last year’s elections, when Wike rallied five PDP governors to oppose Atiku’s presidential candidacy. The fallout now seems to be spilling into the party’s internal politics, with high-stakes manoeuvres to reshape its leadership.
An anonymous senior member of the NWC confirmed that Atiku has been actively involved in discussions with party insiders, aligning himself with those calling for a change at the top. “We are not acting alone,” the source said. “Atiku has spoken to some of us and expressed his support for the push to remove Damagum.”
Critics of Damagum argue that his leadership has failed to address key structural issues within the party since he took over after Iyorchia Ayu’s removal. One particularly contentious decision was Damagum’s NWC handing control of the PDP’s Rivers State structure to Wike, rather than to the state’s governor, Siminalayi Fubara, a move that has angered many in the PDP Governors’ Forum.
According to another source close to the former Vice President, Atiku’s motivations are rooted in his commitment to upholding the PDP’s constitution, rather than any personal vendetta against Damagum. “This is not about Damagum as an individual,” the source clarified. “Atiku is concerned with restoring order and adhering to democratic principles within the party.”
Efforts to reach Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, for a response were unsuccessful, and as tensions mount, all eyes are on how the PDP’s internal power struggle will unfold.
Meanwhile, Timothy Osadolor, a PDP NEC member and Deputy National Youth Leader, has called for calm, urging party members to refrain from public squabbles and allow the party’s reconciliation and disciplinary committees to resolve ongoing disputes. “We must stop airing our grievances publicly and let the committees do their work,” Osadolor said, expressing optimism in the party’s ability to heal its divisions.
With the party embroiled in internal strife, the coming weeks will be critical for the future of the PDP as it navigates an uncertain path toward unity and relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape.
