Four PDP govs back Wike’s loyalist, Damagum as party chairman (See list)

Four PDP govs back Wike’s loyalist, Damagum as party chairman (See list)

The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shows no signs of easing, as efforts to unseat the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, continue to fuel divisions among the PDP Governors’ Forum.

According to a senior PDP official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Damagum enjoys the backing of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and at least four party governors.

These governors are identified as Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State.

The source further disclosed that while the governors of Enugu and Zamfara, Peter Mbah and Dauda Lawal, respectively, remain neutral, seven other PDP governors are actively pushing for Damagum’s removal.

Leading the anti-Damagum faction is Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. Other governors in this camp include Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom.

The insider revealed, “Governor Makinde is among four governors who are close to Wike and firmly support Damagum’s continued role as acting chairman.”

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Since assuming leadership after Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s court-ordered removal, Damagum has faced mounting criticism from party leaders for his handling of the PDP crisis. The situation worsened when Damagum aligned with Wike to postpone the National Executive Committee meeting, initially scheduled for September 26, to October 24, while endorsing the Rivers State PDP Congresses.

Tensions between Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara peaked on August 24, as a faction of PDP governors publicly backed Fubara, calling for a review of the state’s congresses and reaffirming his leadership. Wike, in response, issued a warning on August 31, vowing to intervene in the affairs of other governors’ states if they interfered in Rivers State politics. This prompted a strong rebuke from the PDP Governors’ Forum, labeling Wike’s threat as irresponsible.

Despite these tensions, Governor Makinde reassured Damagum of his support, emphasizing the unity of his faction. “We stand 100 percent behind the Damagum-led National Working Committee,” Makinde stated during a meeting in Oyo State.

Meanwhile, Adamawa State Governor Fintiri, a vocal supporter of Damagum, publicly expressed his backing on Thursday. “We are fully committed to Amb. Umar Damagum’s leadership,” Fintiri declared via social media, asserting that the North-East PDP caucus remains united in support of Damagum.

In contrast, Osun State Governor Adeleke has called for adherence to the PDP Constitution, which mandates that any replacement for the National Chairman must come from the same zone as the outgoing chairperson. With Ayu being from North Central, Adeleke argues that Damagum’s successor should also hail from that region.

The ongoing leadership struggle has drawn in the PDP’s Board of Trustees, led by its Chairman, Adolphus Wabara. In recent meetings with both PDP governors and the party’s National Assembly caucus, the BoT has sought to mediate and propose solutions to the internal disputes.

As the situation continues to unfold, the future of the party’s leadership remains uncertain, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.

 

Four PDP govs back Wike’s loyalist, Damagum as party chairman (See list)

(PUNCH)