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“There is no act of treachery or meanness of which a political party is not capable; for in politics there is no honour.”
—Benjamin Disraeli
By Cosmas Omegoh
A little long ago, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was both a behemoth and everything behemoth could be.
Founded in 1998, the party’s rise was mercurial. It grew rock-solid, and instantly became sought-after, such that politicians flocked to its fold in a desperate bid to realise their ambitions.
But when PDP lost the Presidency in 2015, in one fleeting moment, a lot about the party began to wane. The behemoth began to lose weight and awe, life and lustre. Its verve and vigour began to drain; its power and influence commenced a steady descent.
Today, it is clear to see: the very fibre of PDP has snapped; its cell has shrunk; its fame and fortune gone – perhaps irretrievably. The PDP everyone knew can no longer muster as much energy that made it the leviathan it once was. Now, perhaps, it is only those white, bright blood-red and green colours of its umbrella that still stand out as grim reminders of its once glorious past.
Now, the PDP everyone used to know is regrettably trudging a treacherous road to Golgotha – even when its currently fractured leadership would agree to the contrary.
At the head of the current leadership seemingly dutifully overseeing the party’s death is its National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Illya Damagum.
Damagum is not a stranger in PDP circles. He previously served as the party’s National Deputy Chairman (North), before becoming its acting National Chairman following the rancorous removal of the erstwhile National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. It took a back-and-forth – including court decisions before Damagum could assume office.
Now, under his watch, PDP has evidently fallen precipitously, suffering such incalculable harm that ranges from division to defection, depletions to deflection. And as it stands, it will surely take both a miracle and the miraculous for the party to even present candidates in the 2027 elections. That is the reason curious observers are inclined to believe that its success is herculean.
At the moment, the watching world is clear that the string of developments in PDP is akin to a circus show. No day, for instance, passes uneventfully in the party. Sadly, much of those developments appear weird and wild. Yet, the party and its leadership are unfazed. And even when they act, their attempt is at best tepid, insipid. It is all motion, no movement. Is the party bound to the Philistines with Damagum, many now ask.
Right now, PDP is witnessing absolutely absurd crises of big proportions – on all fronts.
The biggest PDP crisis is the ex-Governor Nyeson Wike factor.
Since President Bola Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election, the former Rivers State governor has been a torn in PDP’s flesh, grounding the party’s wheels of progress every step of the way. Wike, many have said, maintains a chokehold on the party. while still working as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Many who are ill at ease with Wike’s “anti-party” activities suggest that they were part of his pack with Tinubu to destroy the party and render it incapable of presenting a viable candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Wike for the record has openly and consistently declared his full support for President Tinubu while remaining in the PDP.
Part of Wike’s strategy, many insist, is planting elements loyal to him in strategic places in the party to ensure that things work in his favour. And thus far, he is clearly steps ahead of everyone else in the party. That is why the Wadata Plaza head office of PDP is now a study in confusion..
Meanwhile, the wounds inflicted on the party by the Samuel Anyanwu and Udo Okoye struggle for the secretary are yet to heal. That also leaves PDP haemorrhaging.
As it is, there seems to be no clear direction that Damagum is taking the PDP. That also leaves the party in quandary. So observers are asking if Damagum’s intent is not to drive PDP to its death.
The shenanigans at the party drove away high-profile persons like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who saw a clear ploy to use some elements in the party to truncate his ambition of running for Presidency in 2027. Thus far, many more alarming exits from the party have been recorded, including the defection of four PDP governors alongside elected representatives of the party in their respective states – everything happening in one fell swoop.
Even the rumour mills now have it that three more governors elected on the platform of the PDP are already on the queue to join APC.
Many keenly watching the ongoing gale of defections of PDP governors keep wondering its place in the democratic books. They cannot believe all that is happening with Damagum still in command as team lead.
Unfortunately, the PDP cannot even hold its national convention scheduled for October 28, 2025 in Ibadan. It also could not carry out the screening of aspirants for its 2025 Elective National Convention.
More confusion was to follow when former Jigawa State governor and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Sule Lamido, warned that he might head to court following his alleged exclusion from the chairmanship race, claiming his right was muzzled.
Lamido’s outburst came on the heels of suggestions that former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, had been chosen as a consensus candidate for the chairmanship job.
Amid the confusion, another twist emerged when Anyanwu, who is supposed to be in charge of the secretariat, reportedly claimed that he was unaware that Turaki purchased forms to run for chairmanship.
Later, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who is the Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee, (NCOC), had to issue a statement suspending the screening of aspirants that was scheduled to hold on Tuesday October 28, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” No new date for the screening has been given, thus highlighting the growing debacle in the party.
Meanwhile there are speculations around Governor Fintiri that he is eyeing defection to the APC. That further leaves the line between genuine elements of PDP and moles in the party as blurred as it can be. No one is sure of where the other’s allegiance lies.
While confusion simmered, a threat was dropped by over 20 federal lawmakers elected on the platform of the party hinting defection following allegations that the leaders were scheming to clear a woman believed to be a nominee of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for the position of National Woman Leader. Mbah recently defected to the APC.
Amid the strange happenings in and around the PDP, many cannot understand why the party is unwilling and unable to steady its ship to be taken seriously. They are wondering if Damagum is not a bystander rather than a chairman of the party. And if indeed he is the acting chairman of PDP still, people want to know how he sleeps at night if indeed he is in-charge.
On Friday, a court suspended the party’s convention. And just yesterday, there was a gale of suspensions and counter-suspensions among the PDP leaders.
Now, the big question is: can PDP under Damagum restart, refocus and reclaim lost grounds? The answer is seemingly blowing in the wind!
