WIKE’S SHADOW WAR: ANYANWU FACTION SACKS DAMAGUM, TEARS PDP INTO TWO

By Ademola Adekusibe
November 1, 2025.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a known ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has suspended Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and several top officials, deepening the crisis rocking the opposition party.

The announcement, made on Saturday, marks a major escalation in the ongoing power struggle within the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Those suspended include the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro; National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade; and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo.

Anyanwu, who himself has been under suspension by another faction loyal to Damagum, said the affected officers would face a disciplinary panel “to show cause why they should not be expelled.”

He also announced the appointment of Mohammed Abdulrahman, the National Vice Chairman (North Central), as the acting national chairman.

The development underscores the deepening split within the PDP, with rival factions now issuing counter-suspensions, each claiming legitimacy.

Political observers say the crisis reflects a fierce internal battle between loyalists of Wike, who wields considerable influence in the party despite his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, and those aligned with the Atiku Abubakar bloc, which has been pushing to reclaim control ahead of the party’s national convention.