Politics
PDP Crisis: Feb NEC meeting shaky as Wike, Govs Forum Chair, Bala Mohammed, flex muscles
The February 29 National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, appears shaky as efforts to reconcile feuding factions have failed to yield the desired results.
Specifically, the forum is expected to address all contentious issues in the party, but the war of attrition among its stalwarts is not abetting.
The party is walking on quicksand with every step it takes towards resolving internal crises.
One of the thorny issues expected to be treated at the planned gathering, which may not be resolved is the controversy between Federal Capital Territory,FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
Both leaders have been engaged in a war of words over the fate of the party.
While reacting to Wike’s criticism of his opposition to President Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills, the Bauchi State helmsman had described Wike as a liability to the party.
In a statement by Mukhtar Gidado, his media adviser, Mohammed said Wike is a “transactional politician” and a “liability” in the Tinubu administration.
“His recent media outburst was yet another reminder of his transactional approach to politics, where personal ambition eclipses loyalty, principles, and collective interests,’’ Mohammed added.
Wike, on his part, fired back, urging the governor to stop giving an excuse for his “lack of capacity to provide leadership as chairman of the party’s Governors’ Forum”.
He said: “It is funny that a known fairweather politician like Bala Mohammed was the one calling someone else a transactional politician.
Also, nothing has been heard about the Olagunsoye Oyinlola-led National Reconciliation Committee after it last held a meeting with the party’s NWC on October 23, 2024.
The body was saddled with the responsibility of reconciling feuding party leaders, members and groups. No time frame was announced, but many expected progress to be made before the NEC meeting.
“The committee certainly has fresh fires to put out,” a party insider told Sunday Vanguard.
A NEC member, who also spoke to Sunday Vanguard on condition of anonymity said: “I cannot confirm that the NEC meeting, which has been postponed three consecutive times, will be held as scheduled in February.
“Damagum and his sit-tight choir are already shopping for another excuse to postpone the meeting. Because we are having all of these troubles at various levels, it remains to be seen if reason would prevail.’’
Another bone of contention is the crisis in Rivers State chapter, which pitched Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara against each other.
This particular issue has divided the National Working Committee ,NWC.
A recent judgment by Rivers State High Court affirming the leadership of a faction of the party loyal to Fubara was welcomed by some NWC members.
National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, National Treasurer, Ahmed Yayari, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, accepted the judgment.
Ologunagba, who issued a statement stating this position said:”The NWC of the PDP acknowledges receipt, considered and hereby accepts the judgment of the Rivers State High Court which in Suit No.
PHC/2301/CS/2024 nullified the ward, local government and state congresses of our party in Rivers State conducted on July 27, August 10 and August 31, 2024, respectively.”
Damagum
In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, he said: “As of today, Rivers State chapter of our great party is firmly under the leadership of Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor and his executive.
“As a law-abiding party, we implore Ewor and his team to unite behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara to deliver on his promise of good governance to the people of Rivers State. At the national level, we will give them the needed support to succeed.”
However, the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and some elected officials believed to be sympathetic to Wike do not share this notion.
For instance, Deputy National Publicity, Ibrahim Abdullahi, who belongs to Damagum camp, countered Ologunagba’s declaration with a disclaimer.
Abdullahi accused the party’s spokesman of allowing “sentiments to becloud his sense of judgement” on issues.
He said: “The NWC did not accept the judgment in River State, recognising the Ewor-led ex-co. That is not true. The NWC has not sat since September last year. This is subject to your verification. I wonder where he will now say the NWC sat and adopted wholly, or accepted the verdict, recognising the Ewor-led state ex-co in River State.”
Anyanwu, Ude-Okoye
Amid the power struggle, the position of National Secretary is still a subject of litigation. A High Court as well as a Court of Appeal gave judgement recognising Sunday Ude-Okoye as the legitimate occupant.
However, Senator Anyanwu, who has approached the Supreme Court to challenge his ouster, insisted that by virtue of his pending case at the Supreme Court and his application for a stay of execution of the orders of the two courts, he remains in office.
While the Damagum group accepted his argument, Ologunagba and his colleagues as well as the party’s Board of Trustees,BoT, disagreed.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections, a mass protest voting movement may be building up in Anambra South Senatorial District, following reported moves by members of major political parties to support the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Ebuka Onunkwo.
The development is said to be linked to grievances among some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the treatment allegedly meted out to Onunkwo during previous political contests.
Onunkwo, who had previously contested the Anambra South senatorial seat under APGA, later emerged as the NDC candidate for the 2027 election.
Although the ADC is currently embroiled in legal disputes over the authentic candidates and the conduct of its primary elections, some members of the APC and APGA are also reportedly dissatisfied with developments within their respective parties.
It was gathered that a section of APGA members, in particular, are backing Onunkwo as a form of protest over the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary, while some members of other parties are also believed to be considering voting for him irrespective of their party affiliations.
Confirming the growing support for Onunkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of NOWAS Oil and Gas Limited and a major stakeholder in Anambra South politics, Chief Ignesus Ikechukwudere Nnubia, said the NDC candidate currently enjoys widespread acceptability across party lines.
Nnubia said the growing support for Onunkwo had made his party affiliation less significant, arguing that voters would ultimately vote according to their conscience and assessment of the candidates.
He said, “At the moment, the number of APGA members with him and supporting him makes one wonder what is left of that party. Even the remnants of the PDP have pitched their tents with him, while members of the ruling APC at the national level are also behind him.
“So, the party that he belongs to is not a factor at all. You know that it is a game of numbers, and people are going to vote according to their conscience and not necessarily because of the political party they belong to.
“People are not bound to vote for their party, and some of them are ready and willing to vote for him.
“We are not talking about the party because he will surely get votes from the NDC, APGA, APC and even other political parties that are already closing ranks to support him as their candidate.”
Nnubia further described Onunkwo as the candidate currently standing tall among the contenders for the Anambra South senatorial seat, expressing confidence that his emergence would usher in what he described as a “new dawn” for the district.
He said political parties should not be the major consideration for voters, stressing that what matters most is the ability of elected representatives to improve the lives of their constituents.
According to him, political parties exist because of the people, and therefore the influence of party structures and incumbency has its limits during elections.
Nnubia said those factors would ultimately be tested by the electorate in the 2027 election, which he described as a contest in which voters’ choices would determine the outcome.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has pledged to attract more than ₦2 trillion in private-sector investment to the state within six months of assuming office if elected.
Odii made the pledge while addressing supporters in Lagos ahead of the formal commencement of his campaign.
He said his investment strategy would cover key sectors of the Ebonyi economy, including mining, hospitality, real estate and manufacturing.
According to the PDP candidate, he has identified more than 2,000 prospective investors, each capable of investing about ₦1 billion in the state.
“I have over 2,000 people who can invest ₦1 billion each. When you multiply it, you will get over ₦2 trillion. This has been structured in such a way that all aspects of the economy will be involved,” Odii said.
He said the proposed investment drive was designed not only to inject capital into the state but also to create jobs, expand the productive base of the economy and provide opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
Odii said Ebonyi’s natural resources and strategic location placed it in a strong position to attract large-scale investments if its economic potential was properly harnessed.
He promised that his administration would prioritise private-sector participation, industrialisation and job creation while creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors.
The candidate also said existing businesses in the state would be supported to expand, while new investors would be encouraged to establish operations across various sectors.
His pledge comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with economic development, employment generation and wealth creation featuring prominently in his campaign message.
The proposed ₦2 trillion investment target within six months, if achieved, would represent a significant boost to Ebonyi’s economy and rank among the most ambitious private-sector investment mobilisation plans proposed in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The planned visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State has sparked controversy following a protest by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, that the party was not informed about the visit.
Anosike said the APC in Anambra was never consulted or briefed about the proposed visit, adding that the party was taken aback by reports that the wife of the party’s national leader and presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter.
He said, “It is indeed strange that the First Lady of our presidential candidate is visiting Anambra State without recourse to the party in the state.
“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture.”
Anosike also dismissed the mantra that “The Progressives Are Working Together”, being canvassed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a smokescreen by the ruling party in Anambra to hijack President Tinubu’s re-election from the APC.
He said, “For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together.”
The APC chairman, however, said the development would not compromise the First Lady’s visit, urging all APC members and supporters in the state to turn out and give Senator Oluremi Tinubu a warm welcome.
He stressed that despite the party’s reservations over the arrangements, APC members remained committed to welcoming the First Lady to Anambra State.
Former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Saleh, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saleh, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Isa Yuguda, announced his resignation in a letter submitted to the party leadership in Katagum Local Government Area.
He cited personal reasons for his decision but did not provide further details.
His exit comes amid growing disagreements within the Bauchi APC following the party’s 2027 governorship primary. Other prominent members, including former governorship aspirant Bala Jibrin and Sunusi Kunde, an associate of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, have also reportedly left the party.
Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), resigned on August 31, 2026, following his opposition to the emergence of former Bauchi Governor Muhammad Abubakar as the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate.
He had criticised the primary process and questioned how the candidate emerged.
Kunde also resigned from the APC in August, submitting his resignation to the party chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area.
The latest departures are coming as efforts continue to resolve internal disputes and disagreements among APC members in the state.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ayodele issued the warning in a video shared on his verified X account on Sunday, urging both opposition figures to strengthen their security and remain vigilant.
The cleric did not identify those allegedly behind the purported plot but claimed that attempts were being made to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
According to him, divine intervention would prevent the alleged plan from succeeding.
“Obi and Atiku, be very conscious of your security. They are looking for any means to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
“But God will never allow it to happen. Watch out and be cautious about your security,” he said.
Ayodele also urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider travelling to the United States, alleging that there were forces in America working against his political fortunes.
The claims come as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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