The battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the pro-Atiku and pro-Wike camps may have just begun despite this week’s decision of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to retain Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum as Acting National Chairman until at least August or September.
Although the party said the retention of Damagum was meant to enable it focus on reconciliation and peace building, party sources told The Nation in Abuja on Friday that the calculation of the two camps is who will be in charge of the conduct of the national convention of the party in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
While many observers are of the view that the Wike camp seemed to have triumphed at the NEC meeting, sources said yesterday that the next real test of strength between the two sides will come up over the next few months when the party is scheduled to conduct its congresses in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The leaders produced by the state congresses will constitute a significant chunk of delegates at the party’s national convention expected to take place towards the end of next year, along with other pre-2027 election primaries issues.
The affected states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu and Gombe.
The rest are Imo, Jigawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and the FCT.
The constitution of caretaker committees for the party in some of the states is generating rancor, especially in Rivers State where Governor Siminalayi Fubara kicked over his state’s list.
He claimed the list was doctored to favour the Wike camp.
It was gathered that the Wike camp is desirous of keeping Damagum in office as Chairman beyond August and assume office as substantive national chairman.
But that depends largely on the outcome of the forthcoming ward,local government and state congresses.
The calculation in the Wike camp is that the battle for 2027 would have been partially won if it can get its supporters elected in the majority of the 19 states and the FCT.
Said one source yesterday: “The NEC communiqué states that Damagum will be controlling party affairs until at least August this year, and the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, spoke of a likely review of demands for leadership change by another NEC meeting in September.
“But this matter is beyond that. The leadership change will be a North Central party member taking Damagum’s position of Deputy National Chairman (North) while Damagum becomes Chairman.
“Part of what three PDP governors from the North East made clear during their closed door session is that the position of Deputy National Chairman (North) is not for the North Central to decide but for the entire northern caucus, and it’s likely to go to someone from Nasarawa State who is generally acceptable to all.
“I have been a member of NEC for years and sometimes, all that NEC does is to acknowledge or note some objections and carry on with its business.
“Besides, did we not tell you one week ago that the matter of Damagum’s position would not even be on the agenda of Thursday’s NEC meeting?”
The source, who requested anonymity because he was not mandated to speak on behalf of the group, said the idea of leadership change that would have got Damagum removed was a last minute move acked by intense mobilization efforts.
The objective was to prevent a situation where Damagum would supervise the conduct of the state congresses scheduled for August.
It was gathered that the decision to appoint former Chairman of the Kogi State chapter of PDP, Barrister Humphrey Abba, as Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum was to placate the North Central which has been vocal about replacing Damagum and serving out the term of ousted National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
It was also gathered that in the event that Damagum eventually becomes substantive national chairman of the party, a candidate from the North Central who is acceptable to the pro-Atiku and pro-Wike camps may be brought in as Deputy National Chairman after consultations with northern governors and some other party leaders from the North.
Emerging from the NEC meeting on Thursday, Damagum told reporters that he was not worried about the tension that preceded the deliberation.
He said: “This was not a matter of life and death. I am still an elected member of this NEC. Even if I revert to the position of Deputy National Chairman, I’m still a member of PDP NWC. So, the issue of worrying over surviving or not does not arise.”
@The Nation, excluding headline