A fresh leadership crisis has engulfed Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike on Monday seized control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Led by Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, the North Central vice-chairman recently declared acting national chairman, the group stormed the PDP headquarters demanding the exit of the Ambassador Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee.
The takeover follows the suspension of Damagum by the Samuel Anyanwu-led camp last week. Damagum’s faction had earlier suspended Anyanwu and others for alleged anti-party conduct, sparking a deepening rift within the PDP.
Tensions rose as Abdulrahman’s supporters entered the secretariat, with eyewitnesses reporting that groups of thugs invaded the premises, intimidating staff and journalists before security forces intervened.
Speaking to reporters, Abdulrahman vowed to restore stability and rebuild party unity ahead of future elections, declaring:
“We are ready to work in the interest of our dear party.”
In a separate development, suspended PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), formally notifying it of Damagum’s suspension and Abdulrahman’s appointment. The letter, dated 3 November 2025, requested INEC’s recognition of Abdulrahman’s leadership “in accordance with the PDP constitution.”
Meanwhile, a pro-Damagum pressure group, the PDP Concerned Patriots, has urged the Board of Trustees (BoT) to assume control of the party.
Its spokesperson, former NOA Director-General Mike Omeri, denounced the Wike faction’s actions as “illegal and anti-democratic,” alleging that they had invaded the party headquarters “to unlawfully seize control.”
Omeri also appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the international community to help safeguard Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that the PDP’s grassroots members remain committed to reforming the party from within.
