The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been engulfed in internal conflict in recent weeks, but a meeting of the party’s governors has brokered a truce, restoring peace within the party.
The PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF), led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has called for all factions to revert to the status quo and nullified the suspensions that threatened to tear the party apart.
The crisis within the PDP began when the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, for alleged misconduct.
This suspension sparked a chain reaction. In response, Ologunagba and Ajibade announced the suspension of Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu. The situation escalated further as Ologunagba’s faction declared that the party’s National Treasurer, Yayari Mohammed, would replace Damagum.
Recognizing the damaging effects this internal bickering could have on the PDP, the party’s governors stepped in.
After two days of intense discussions, Governor Bala Mohammed announced the decision to restore order, stressing that there was no faction within the PDP and that all suspensions were now nullified. He explained that the governors, along with representatives from the NWC, the National Assembly Caucus, and the Board of Trustees (BoT), had agreed to settle the dispute and revert to the status quo.
“There is no crisis. The Governors, BoT, and the National Assembly Caucus have agreed that the NWC should revert to the status quo,” Governor Mohammed told journalists after the meeting.
Governor Mohammed expressed confidence that the party had resolved its internal challenges. He emphasized that internal disagreements are a normal part of any political organization but said that the PDP had overcome this particular hurdle.
“There is no party that does not have problems. Some of them are legal, and we do not want to preempt the outcome of legal procedures,” he said.
The governor explained that both factions had agreed to prioritize the party’s unity and the national interest over personal grievances. He stressed that all suspensions have been lifted, and the acting chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, would remain in his position.
“Both parties have agreed that, in the interest of the party and Nigeria, we should return to the status quo before the suspension and counter-suspension. These suspensions have been lifted. That is the resolution of the PDP Governors’ Forum,” he added.
Governor Mohammed urged party members to put aside their differences and focus on the future. He reminded them of the PDP’s legacy as Nigeria’s most experienced political party, which has produced multiple governments and brought stability to the country since the return of democracy in 1999.
“We should make sacrifices and come together. Yes, we may have ill feelings here and there, but we should bury them,” he said.
He warned that personal grievances should not be allowed to create divisions within the party, adding that unity was essential for the PDP to remain a dominant force in Nigerian politics. “Our personal feelings should not be allowed to create perceptions that seem to divide us,” he advised.
The governors’ decision came just days after a Federal High Court in Abuja barred the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) from removing Umar Damagum as the party’s Acting National Chairman. The court ruling followed the heated exchange of suspensions and highlighted the potential for long-term damage if the internal crisis had continued unchecked.
The legal intervention underscored the urgency of resolving the dispute before it spiraled further. The PDP governors acted swiftly to stabilize the party, ensuring that the conflict did not derail the party’s leadership.
Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum downplayed the severity of the situation, insisting that there was no real crisis within the party. He argued that while some people tried to exploit the situation for their own gain, the PDP remained strong and united.
“There is no crisis in the party as far as I am concerned,” Damagum stated. “But some people want to take advantage of the situation. I urge the press not to escalate things even where there is no crisis.”
Damagum acknowledged the role of the PDP governors as key figures in resolving the party’s internal issues. He emphasized that the party’s leadership structure remained intact and urged everyone to follow the directives given by the governors.
“The governors are our leaders and critical organs of this party, and when they speak, we must look at it holistically and also abide by it,” he said.
Despite their suspensions being central to the conflict, Debo Ologunagba and Kamaldeen Ajibade remain members of the PDP. Damagum confirmed that neither had left the party, indicating that the resolution of the crisis was comprehensive and that all parties had agreed to move forward together.
“Have they left? They are still in the party,” Damagum said when asked about Ologunagba and Ajibade.
This assurance helped solidify the idea that the party was committed to reconciliation and unity, even for those involved in the initial suspensions.
