The PDP Crisis: A Battle Over Constitution and Leadership
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is currently facing a deepening internal crisis, with factions within the party accusing each other of violating its constitution and undermining its principles. At the center of this conflict is Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, the factional chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, who has blamed the ongoing turmoil on years of disobedience to the party’s foundational rules and the unchecked ambitions of some leaders.
Ohuabunwa, speaking on Arise News, described the PDP’s internal divisions as self-inflicted, attributing them to a persistent disregard for the party’s founding laws. He stated, “We got to this point for no other reason than disobedience to our own constitution. If we had kept to our laws and obeyed our own rules, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
He emphasized that his faction was formed to “recover and reconcile the party,” which he claimed had lost its moral compass. Ohuabunwa pointed to the 16 years the PDP spent in power before losing the 2015 elections, when the Ekweremadu Committee was set up to investigate what went wrong. However, he noted that the committee’s recommendations were never implemented, leading to repeated mistakes in subsequent elections.
Personal Ambitions and Party Disunity
According to Ohuabunwa, most of the crises within the PDP have been driven by personal ambition and greed. He accused some members of treating the party merely as a vehicle for their presidential aspirations. “From the history of the PDP, every crisis has been about who wants to be president,” he said. “People leave the party, come back, and want to take the front seat immediately — even contesting the highest position.”
He also criticized the handling of leadership succession following the resignation of former National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, calling it a violation of the PDP’s zoning principle. Ohuabunwa argued that the North Central region should have produced Ayu’s replacement, but instead, the party suspended key officers, including the National Secretary, the National Organising Secretary, and the Legal Adviser.
A Call for Discipline and Unity
Rejecting claims that his factional BoT was illegitimate, Ohuabunwa stated that his group acted in accordance with the PDP constitution after the existing BoT became “complicit and partisan.” He explained that the BoT, which is supposed to be the conscience of the party, took sides, prompting his faction to act.
“Our BoT was formed in line with the constitution, from members who align with this vision. It may not include everyone yet, but others will join once they see that we are doing the right thing,” he said. Ohuabunwa emphasized that his faction’s mission is to restore discipline, unity, and respect for the constitution within the PDP.
The Role of INEC and Factions
When asked about the recognition of the Umar Damagum-led faction by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ohuabunwa dismissed it as a misunderstanding. He explained that a letter had been written to INEC for different congresses and primaries, signed by both Damagum and the National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu. “That letter predates the emergence of this faction,” he said.
Ohuabunwa maintained that the creation of his faction was both constitutional and necessary to rescue the PDP from further decline. “Yes, we are a faction, but we are the conscience of the party. Our mission is to recover the PDP and make it what it was meant to be: a disciplined, democratic institution guided by its constitution,” he stated.
Escalating Tensions
The crisis within the PDP deepened after the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC) suspended National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, and two others for alleged anti-party activities. In retaliation, a faction led by Anyanwu announced the suspension of Damagum and five NWC members, accusing them of incompetence and financial misconduct.
The faction also appointed Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Mao Ohuabunwa as Board of Trustees Chairman. However, the Damagum-led NWC dismissed these appointments as illegitimate, describing Abdulrahman as an impostor and reaffirming the suspension of Anyanwu’s group while referring their case to the party’s disciplinary committee.