The division within the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governors Forum (PDP GF) has escalated, mirroring tensions in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over the continued tenure of acting national chairman, Iliya Damagum.
The conflict became public when Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde openly backed Damagum, after PDP GF Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, hinted that Damagum could be replaced during a meeting with a faction of the NWC in Bauchi.
Speaking at the Ladoke Akintola Airport rehabilitation event, which Damagum attended, Makinde reaffirmed his support for the acting chairman.
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He said they are 100 percent in support of the Damagum-led NWC, noting, “Even if we have internal issues, now is not the time to address them. We have a critical election coming up on Saturday, and we must unite to deliver our candidate.”
The discord among the governors is further fueled by disagreements over the role of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is seen as a key figure in the internal crisis within the Rivers State PDP chapter.
Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa have joined the fray, openly taking sides.
Osun Governor Adeleke issued a statement through his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, affirming his commitment to the party’s constitution, which mandates the return of the national chairman’s position to the North Central region. This arrangement was in place under the leadership of former chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Adeleke also stood by an earlier decision of the Governors Forum that called for the transfer of control of the Rivers PDP structure to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
The statement emphasized the need to follow the party’s constitution: “I stand by the Constitution of our great party, which clearly outlines the succession procedure in the event of a chairman’s exit.
“Our party must adhere to this Constitution to ensure responsible governance.”
But just like Makinde, Governor Fintiri has threw his support behind Damagum, praising his leadership for restoring public confidence in the PDP.
In a post on X, he said, “Solidly in support of Amb. Umar Damagum as National Chairman! His leadership has restored public confidence, and we are confident he will steer the party to greater heights.
“Let’s respect the court ruling and uphold our democracy.”
This division within the PDP leadership comes at a critical time, ahead of the Edo State gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
It comes as the party has urged Edo voters to resist any attempt to disrupt or manipulate the polls.
In a statement issued by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, the PDP called on voters to treat anyone attempting to rig or manipulate the election as a criminal.
The statement also warned of alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deploy fake security personnel to intimidate voters and cause chaos on election day.
The PDP urged citizens to confront and resist such efforts.
The party also called on the Inspector General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue identification badges to authorized security personnel to prevent impostors from infiltrating the system.
The PDP reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful elections but promised to defend the democratic process by all legitimate means.
Additionally, the party called on INEC to ensure timely delivery of sensitive election materials to polling units to prevent any potential manipulation by the APC.
Polling agents were directed to remain vigilant and verify that BVAS devices were not tampered with before the accreditation and voting processes.
“The PDP is poised for victory,” the statement concluded.
“We have worked hard for this election, and we will ensure that nobody undermines the will of the people at the polls,” it declared.
