ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Fresh tension has engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following an attempt on Monday to unseat the National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and replace him with Abdulrahman Mohammed.
The dramatic incident, which took place at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, further deepened the ongoing leadership crisis as rival factions continued to battle for control of the opposition party.
The latest twist came shortly after Mohammed addressed a press conference in Abuja, where he declared his intention to assume office as Acting National Chairman.
According to him, prominent stakeholders of the party had urged him to step in and provide leadership during what he described as a turbulent period for the PDP.
“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,” Mohammed announced.
Expressing concern over the PDP’s dwindling political influence, he blamed the party’s internal divisions and weak leadership for its decline and for the wave of defections that has plagued it in recent years.
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“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 lamented.
Mohammed unveiled a three-point agenda aimed at uniting the party, restoring discipline, and organising an all-inclusive National Convention to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) after completing all outstanding congresses across the country.
“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.
He emphasised that the PDP must be “returned to the people,” describing his takeover as the beginning of a rebirth for the once-dominant political party.
“Hand over this, our beloved party, back to her true owners, the Nigerian people,” he declared, adding that a new dawn had come for the PDP.
Mohammed also called for unity and collective effort, assuring that consultations were already ongoing and that a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) would soon be convened.
“I cannot do this seemingly difficult job alone; I will need all your support, prayers and genuine commitment to join hands on lifting our party upwards,” he added.
Earlier in the day, tension had erupted at the PDP National Secretariat when some staff members attempted to block the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from entering his office following his suspension by the Damagum-led NWC. The staff insisted that Anyanwu should remain away from his office until the leadership dispute was resolved.
The situation escalated when police officers were called in to restore order. They fired teargas to disperse protesting staff who had barricaded the entrance, preventing Anyanwu’s access to his office.
The confrontation occurred while Damagum was not on the premises.
Shortly after the clash, another group loyal to Mohammed gained entry into the PDP headquarters.
In a bold move, Mohammed entered Damagum’s office and sat in the chairman’s seat, despite Damagum’s absence a symbolic act that further heightened the leadership crisis.
Security personnel from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command were later deployed to maintain peace and secure the facility as the power struggle deepened.