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Fresh crisis erupted on Monday within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following an attempt by a faction to unseat the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and install Abdulrahman Mohammed in his place.
The drama unfolded at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, heightening tension within the opposition party already beset by internal power struggles.
Shortly before the confrontation, Mohammed had addressed a press conference in Abuja where he declared himself the new Acting National Chairman, claiming he was stepping in at the request of “critical stakeholders” of the party.
“I have accepted to become Acting National Chairman at this difficult time through the mercy of God and instrumentality of very critical stakeholders of this party,” he said.
Mohammed, lamenting the PDP’s declining strength and internal divisions, blamed poor leadership and unchecked defections for weakening the once dominant political force.
“We are all aware of the current pitiable state of our glorious party because of the actions and inactions of our leaders and members. From being the ruling party for 16 uninterrupted years to being an opposition party for over 10 years now at the national level, from being a formidable opposition to a now humbled opposition owing to the unexplainable, unconscionable defections of governors, legislators and council chairmen, et al.,” he stated.
He pledged to restore unity, rebuild the party, and conduct an inclusive national convention to elect a substantive National Working Committee (NWC).
“My job here as Acting National Chairman is simple: heal the party of its wounds and end factionalisation; reposition the party and make it law abiding; and plan an all inclusive National Convention and hand over to a properly elected National Working Committee (NWC) after concluding all the outstanding congresses at the Zonal, State, Local Government and Ward levels,” he said.
Tension heightened earlier in the day when some staff at the secretariat prevented the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from entering his office following his suspension by the Damagum led NWC. Police officers deployed to the scene fired teargas to disperse the crowd.
Moments later, Mohammed and his supporters stormed the secretariat, where he reportedly entered Damagum’s office and took the chairman’s seat in his absence, a move that further escalated the party’s leadership crisis.
Security operatives from the FCT Police Command were later drafted to the secretariat to restore calm and prevent a breakdown of order.