The twelve governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have initiated efforts to reassert their authority over the party’s day-to-day affairs, following mounting agitation for its repositioning in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
This move follows their first physical meeting of 2025, held in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday, January 31. During the meeting, the governors concluded that decisive action was needed to protect the PDP’s interests and restore its standing.
A party insider familiar with the development, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed, “Our governors have since come to the realization that their interest, as well as that of the PDP platform, would be better served if they take the party out of the shadows of personality cults.
“The governors were unanimous in their decision to salvage the party’s brand from the damage done by years of internal strife and the scheming for control by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“They told the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, who many believe was doing Wike’s bidding in cahoots with the former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to either align with the interest of the majority of party members or be prepared to be shown the way out.”
The source added that the governors agreed the PDP must enter any political alliance from a position of strength rather than weakness.
The governors’ firm stance was reflected in their communique, where they insisted that the National Working Committee swear in Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the PDP’s National Secretary, in line with an Appeal Court judgment.
Additionally, they sanctioned the NWC’s decision to postpone the South-South Zonal Congress, despite preparations already made by Wike’s loyalists.
A member of the party’s National Executive Committee, who also requested anonymity, remarked, “Wike’s decision to go ahead with the purported congress was a direct challenge to the governors, especially those from the South-South region. They waited to see how Damagum and the NWC would respond.
“Damagum’s response, which came in the form of his open rejection of the Calabar gathering where ‘Wike and co’ claimed to have elected Chief Dan Orbih as National Vice Chairman, was clear.
“The party has gone ahead to set up a seven-member caretaker committee to oversee the party’s affairs in the zone.”
While inaugurating the South-South PDP Zonal Caretaker Committee on Thursday, Damagum reaffirmed the party’s position, stating, “I want to use this opportunity to make it clear that, as far as the PDP is concerned, no election has taken place in the South-South.
“The tenure of the zonal committee has expired, and we still have a few weeks or about a month before conducting the zonal congresses.
“In the meantime, we found it necessary to set up this caretaker committee.”
Despite serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in an APC-led government, Nyesom Wike remains a significant force within the PDP, particularly in the South-South region. His presence at the controversial Calabar gathering generated intense interest, as he continues to exert control over the political framework of the region.
A party stalwart, familiar with the situation, observed that Wike and his supporters “are not likely to take the rejection of their congress lightly.”
Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed optimism about recent party decisions, stating, “I believe that with the few steps so far taken by the NWC, one can sincerely hope that our party is on track to recovery.
“The setting up of a caretaker committee to prepare the ground for congresses to elect new zonal leaders in the South-South is a step in the right direction.”
