Politics
PDP Postpones NWC Meeting Amid Wike, Governors Dispute
The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has postponed the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting to next week, citing escalating tensions between former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the PDP Governors Forum. The dispute centers on the control of Rivers State party structures.
This postponement follows a deepening political rift between Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The PDP governors have aligned themselves with Fubara, asserting that the governor should be recognized as the leader of the PDP in Rivers State, a stance that has angered Wike. In response, Wike issued a fiery warning to the governors, threatening to “ignite” conflicts in their states if they continued to meddle in Rivers affairs.
The PDP Governors Forum condemned Wike’s threats, labeling them as irresponsible. The governors maintained that their stance was consistent with past practices, noting that Wike himself had enjoyed similar privileges during his tenure as governor.
The ongoing dispute led the governors to demand the annulment of recent ward and local government congresses in Rivers State, which handed control of the party structure to Wike. They are pushing for fresh congresses to be conducted under Fubara’s leadership.
The NWC meeting, initially scheduled for Wednesday, was seen as a potential platform to address these growing disagreements. However, it was postponed amid concerns that the meeting could lead to further confrontation.
Our correspondent reported that despite a court injunction halting the PDP’s congresses in Rivers State, the Damagum-led NWC proceeded with the congresses, favoring Wike’s control of the party structure.
On August 24, the PDP Governors Forum publicly supported Fubara, urging the NWC to recognize him as the rightful leader of the party in Rivers State.
In response to the escalating tensions, the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, postponed the NWC meeting, citing concerns over potential clashes. He stated that the meeting would now be held next week to avoid immediate confrontation.
Sources within the party, however, suggest that the postponement was a strategic move by Wike’s loyalists within the NWC, who are attempting to buy time to solidify their plans. Some NWC members, who requested anonymity, expressed frustration over the delay, accusing Wike’s faction of stalling the decision-making process.
When contacted, Damagum denied that a meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday, deflecting inquiries by suggesting that the secretary should be asked if any meeting had been planned.
Meanwhile, the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, dismissed claims that the NWC meeting was postponed solely due to the Wike-governors conflict. He asserted that the agenda for the meeting had been rearranged and that the postponement was not exclusively tied to the ongoing dispute.
In a related development, the PDP has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of meddling in its internal affairs and those of other opposition parties. PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi, alleged that the APC is attempting to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
In response, APC Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim criticized the PDP, arguing that the party’s inability to manage its internal conflicts is a sign of weakness. Ibrahim offered sarcastic “assistance” to the PDP in managing its affairs, but added that such help would come at a cost. He reiterated that the APC remains focused on national development rather than engaging in the internal issues of a “sinking ship” like the PDP.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have denied allegations of defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party.
In a statement signed by Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, the Assembly members refuted rumors circulating online, claiming that 25 members were planning to leave APC for an unnamed political party. A similar claim surfaced recently, suggesting that 27 members were considering joining the Labour Party due to leadership disputes within the Assembly.
Ogundipe stated that these claims had been unequivocally refuted, with members expressing their unwavering commitment to APC and their confidence in resolving internal issues through established party mechanisms.
“To avoid any confusion, no APC member of the Lagos State House of Assembly is considering defection. As true progressives, we acknowledge that challenges may arise, but we remain committed to addressing them through democratic and lawful processes,” he said.
He added that the party leadership is fully engaged, and any outstanding issues would be resolved amicably. Ogundipe urged the public to disregard the baseless reports designed to mislead and create unnecessary tension.
“We reaffirm our loyalty to the leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ogundipe concluded, emphasizing that the Lagos State House of Assembly would continue focusing on its legislative duties, enacting laws that promote the development of Lagos State.
Finally, he advised those spreading falsehoods to desist, reaffirming the Assembly’s dedication to its legislative mandate.
The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting that he is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, Atiku’s camp described the rumors as baseless and misleading.
“We have observed that some news platforms are peddling unverified information that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read.
The former vice president’s media team clarified that Atiku remains committed to the PDP and is actively working on forming a broad coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“Atiku is advocating a robust coalition that would accommodate all opposition parties – the PDP inclusive,” the statement added. “It is fallacious and unfounded to allege that the Waziri is jumping the PDP ship.”
The statement further emphasized that Atiku’s focus remains on uniting opposition forces to “rescue Nigeria from the grip of the APC.”
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has been vocal about the need for a strong opposition alliance to counter what he describes as the failures of the current administration.
The media office urged Nigerians to disregard speculations about Atiku’s defection, reaffirming that he remains a committed member of the PDP.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted the indirect primary method for selecting its candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election. This decision was announced by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, after a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Bashiru stated that the decision aligns with the position of the Anambra State chapter of the APC. He also confirmed that the Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC will meet with aspirants and stakeholders next Tuesday to finalize the modalities for the primary. Dismissing speculations that the party had already endorsed a preferred candidate, Bashiru emphasized that all seven aspirants remain in contention.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing concerns over its inability to attract aspirants for the Anambra governorship race. With the deadline for the sale of nomination forms fast approaching, no candidate has yet purchased the party’s N40 million expression of interest and nomination forms.
The PDP had recently expressed confidence in reclaiming Anambra, following a peaceful zonal congress in Enugu, where party leaders unanimously re-elected the Ali Odefa-led executive. However, reports indicate that high costs and internal crises within the party are discouraging aspirants.
With uncertainty surrounding the PDP, aspirants are now turning to alternative platforms such as the APC, Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for their governorship ambitions.
As the election race intensifies, political observers will be watching to see how the PDP resolves its internal challenges and whether the APC’s chosen primary process will unify or divide its ranks.
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