Introduction to the Crisis
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been ordered by a High Court in Oyo State to proceed with its national convention on 15 November in Ibadan, following a legal directive that has intensified tensions within the opposition party. Justice A. L. Akintola issued the order on Monday in response to an ex parte motion filed by Folahan Malomo Adelabi, compelling the PDP and its acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, to go ahead with the convention as earlier scheduled.
Growing Divisions and Criticism
The ruling comes amid growing divisions within the party and renewed criticism of Damagum’s leadership from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Speaking on Politics Today, a television programme monitored in Abuja on Monday night, Wike accused Damagum of lacking the integrity to lead the party, describing him as a “tax collector” driven by financial interests rather than party loyalty.
Wike’s Accusations Against Damagum
Wike claimed he had intervened to keep the PDP leadership functional during its internal legal disputes but argued that Damagum had failed to show leadership. The former Rivers State governor challenged Damagum to seek legal redress if he considered the remarks defamatory. “Let Damagum challenge me. Let him go to court and sue me and say, ‘This was what the minister said about me.’ He knows he cannot,” he said.
Atiku Abubakar’s Defection
The minister also claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent defection from the PDP was inevitable, arguing that Atiku and his allies had repeatedly destabilised the party. “Atiku has no choice but to go,” Wike said. “Someone who wants to use the PDP, knowing that I am there, cannot get that platform. These are people who destroyed the party. Remember how many times he left and came back.”
Response to Critics
Responding to critics who accused him of working secretly with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike said those making such claims had now defected to the same party they accused him of supporting. “The man you claimed is working for APC to kill PDP is still in the PDP, and you people have run away to join the party you said I am working for,” he said.
Conclusion
The current situation within the PDP reflects deep-seated divisions and leadership challenges. The court order to proceed with the national convention and the criticisms leveled against Damagum by Wike highlight the party’s internal struggles. As the party moves forward with its convention, it faces the task of resolving its internal conflicts and presenting a unified front ahead of future elections.
FAQs
- Q: What is the current status of the PDP’s national convention?
A: The PDP has been ordered by a High Court in Oyo State to proceed with its national convention on 15 November in Ibadan. - Q: Who criticized Ambassador Umar Damagum’s leadership?
A: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, criticized Damagum’s leadership, accusing him of lacking integrity and being driven by financial interests. - Q: What did Wike say about Atiku Abubakar’s defection from the PDP?
A: Wike claimed that Atiku’s defection was inevitable, stating that Atiku and his allies had repeatedly destabilised the party. - Q: How did Wike respond to accusations of working with the APC?
A: Wike responded by saying that those who accused him of working with the APC had now defected to the same party, implying that their accusations were baseless.
