PDP governors convene emergency meeting as party crisis deepens

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will meet on Friday in Asaba, Delta State, to address the party’s deepening crisis.

The emergency meeting follows a chaotic Board of Trustees (BoT) gathering in Abuja on Wednesday, where supporters of embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, attacked former PDP Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye.

The meeting, convened by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, will focus on resolving internal conflicts, organizing the NEC meeting, addressing the National Secretary dispute, and reviewing the party’s state.

Speaking at the BoT meeting, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum accused party leaders of fueling divisions.

“This crisis within the NWC is driven by leaders who should be uniting us,” he said. “You cannot ride a dead horse to your destination—creating chaos for personal ambition only weakens the party.”

He assured that the NEC meeting, requested by governors and stakeholders, would be held in February.

BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara also expressed frustration.

“The failure to resolve these conflicts weakens our party,” he said. “The NWC must put aside personal ambition and prioritize the PDP’s survival.”

The party has been in turmoil since the 2023 elections, with members accusing Damagum—a close ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike—of worsening the crisis. Party organs remain divided, and tensions between Wike and Mohammed have escalated.

At the BoT meeting, security forces had to intervene after Anyanwu’s supporters forcefully removed Ude-Okoye, whom an Appeal Court recently recognized as the rightful National Secretary. The disruption nearly halted proceedings before order was restored.

With the PDP’s leadership crisis unresolved, all eyes are on the Asaba meeting as governors attempt to stabilize the party before the NEC session in February.