According to the report from the Sun News, Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for April 17 and 18, the unfolding discord within the party has assumed a notable turn.
According to sources familiar with the matter, a rift is evident among governors, senators, and members of the House of Representatives as strategic maneuverings and political computations to seize control of the party come to the fore.
The power struggle within the party revolves around two prominent figures: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP, and the former Rivers State governor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. While Wike is seen as having a firm grip on the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives' caucuses, Atiku enjoys the support of several governors.
Insiders suggest that Wike installed the heads of the PDP Senate and House of Representatives' caucuses against the wishes of some party stakeholders. Additionally, he purportedly wields influence over a considerable number of members of the PDP's National Working Committee (NWC) and state chairpersons.
The Minister of FCT reportedly has the backing of a group of incumbent PDP governors, which includes representatives from Bauchi, Oyo, Plateau, Zamfara, and Taraba States.
Conversely, governors from Bayelsa, Edo, Rivers, Delta, Adamawa, and Akwa Ibom are said to be throwing their weight behind the former Vice President.
Regarding the Senate, the PDP caucus is said to remain cohesive, with Abba Moro serving as the minority leader. Although differing views emerge from the House of Representatives' PDP caucus, Kingsley Chinda, an ally of Wike, asserts that there is no turbulence within the caucus.
In the realm of the NWC, Umar Ililya Damagum as the acting chairman faces accusations of loyalty to Wike, a claim stemming from Wike's alleged influence over Damagum's appointment subsequent to Iyorchia Ayu's removal.
In response to Damagum's perceived alignment with Wike's faction, Atiku and his allies are fervently pushing for Damagum's ouster as the acting chairman and a return to a North Central leader, where Ayu hails from. However, key party figures cast doubts on the success of this plan, contending that Atiku's faction lacks the requisite backing to challenge Wike's stronghold.
One party luminary framed the unfolding struggle as a preview of the dynamics expected in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential elections. He intimated that emerging leaders within the PDP are determined to thwart Atiku's bid for the presidential ticket, positioned to potentially face off against Bola Tinubu of the APC.
Reportedly, Wike's faction is allegedly rallying behind Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who also finds himself at odds with Atiku.
Per the prevailing sentiment within the party, should Damagum manage to weather the storm at the imminent NEC meeting, it could signify a diminishing influence of Atiku within the PDP's structure.