Ahead of Thursday’s meeting of the National Executive Committee(NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the camp of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike/G-5 group have retreated into the trenches over plot to remove the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Ilya Damagum.
Although there are indications that Damagum may survive, Atiku’s camp is understood to be poised to fight to the end.
The Wike/G-5 group has thrown its weight behind Damagum.
Most party leaders and NEC members were last night also mobilising for Damagum. Apart from breaking the ranks of the 60 PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives, who recently demanded Damagum’s resignation, an aspirant for the office of National Chairman, David Ombugadu from North-Central, has declared his support for Damagum.
These developments have created anxiety in Atiku’s camp which is struggling to sell the “Operation Rescue PDP” agenda to party leaders and members.
Party sources told The Nation that PDP governors and many members are not convinced by Atiku’s camp’s campaign on salvaging the party.
Many of them cite his intermittent shuttles between Nigeria and Dubai.
Many leaders suspect that Atiku’s renewed interest in PDP affairs stems largely from his interest in the party’s presidential ticket for 2027. But Atiku’s camp is not prepared to give up on seizing PDP from the control of Wike/G-5 group.
A party source said: “It is going to be a battle royale at the NEC meeting.
There are two opposing sides, namely those seeking to maintain the status quo from Wike/G5 Group and Atiku’s camp which wants to rescue PDP and return it to the 1999 era.
“Those sympathetic to Atiku’s agenda are also pushing for a virile opposition.
“But the situation is complicated by the 2027 poll hidden motives of some of the leaders in the two camps.
“All the groups/camps have retreated into the trenches ahead of the meeting. There is intense lobbying going on now. “
At the last count, those who want to unseat Damagum from the North-Central are Senator Gabriel Suswam and Dr. Emmanuel Agbo (Benue State), ex-Minister Humphrey Aba (Kogi State) and the 2023 governorship candidate of PDP in Nasarawa State, David Ombagudu.
There are two opposing sides, namely those seeking to maintain the status quo from Wike/G5 Group and Atiku’s camp which wants to rescue PDP and return it to the 1999 era.
“Those sympathetic to Atiku’s agenda are also pushing for a virile opposition.
“But the situation is complicated by the 2027 poll hidden motives of some of the leaders in the two camps.
“All the groups/camps have retreated into the trenches ahead of the meeting. There is intense lobbying going on now. ” At the last count, those who want to unseat Damagum from the North-Central are Senator Gabriel Suswam and Dr. Emmanuel Agbo (Benue State), ex-Minister Humphrey Aba (Kogi State) and the 2023 governorship candidate of PDP in Nasarawa State, David Ombagudu.
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