The political crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened, as loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have rejected the recent decision of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to retain Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, described the move as a “scam” and claimed it was part of a larger plot by members within the PDP who are allegedly working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken and destroy the opposition.
Speaking to journalists, Ibe said the decision was nothing more than a “script” and warned that the party was walking into a trap set by the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s allies.
“How can you have a genuine resolution when the people at the centre of the crisis are the same ones in bed with the ruling party?” Ibe queried. “They are using the police to harass NEC members and push a one-party state agenda.”
His comments came shortly after the PDP NEC, at its 100th meeting held in Abuja, resolved to allow Anyanwu continue in his role. The PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, said the decision followed consultations with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and was aimed at ending the party’s prolonged internal crisis.
The crisis began in 2023 when Anyanwu contested the Imo State governorship election, raising questions about whether he could remain as national secretary while running for office. Many party leaders in the South-East and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) had backed SKE Udeh-Okoye as a replacement.
Atiku’s camp sees the endorsement of Anyanwu as a final blow to the PDP’s credibility and is now looking at the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which was officially unveiled on Wednesday as the new platform for an opposition coalition.
Meanwhile, former PDP National Auditor, Barr. Ray Nnaji, disagreed with Atiku’s camp and defended the NEC decision. He said the party made the right move to avoid a leadership vacuum and urged the PDP to begin serious rebuilding efforts.
Nnaji blamed some PDP governors and leaders for failing to act quickly when the leadership confusion started, especially after Anyanwu lost the governorship election. “If they had taken action earlier, this crisis would have been avoided,” he said.
As the PDP faces this internal revolt, many of its members are now leaving the party or aligning with the ADC, raising fears that the PDP may lose its position as Nigeria’s leading opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.
