At a tense conference in Abuja, top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed over the lingering internal crisis that has troubled the party since its controversial presidential primary. The division within the PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, is widely seen as contributing to its defeat in the 2023 general election by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the event, titled “Fix PDP to Fix Nigeria,” Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, blamed Nyesom Wike, current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, for the ongoing party crisis. Ugochinyere also criticized the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, for his role in the party’s struggles, questioning why he remains in his position.
“Before we can fix Nigeria, we must fix our own leadership problems,” Ugochinyere said. He accused Wike of abandoning the PDP and working for the APC, further straining the party’s unity.
However, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, directed the blame at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Abdullahi claimed Atiku’s actions had deepened the party’s fractures, including his failure to address the threats posed by the G5 governors before the election.
The public exchange of accusations reflects the deepening divisions within the PDP, raising questions about its ability to resolve internal conflicts and rebuild for future elections.