Sources: PDP boils again as Atiku vs Wike rift worsens internal crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is boiling again as implosion continues in what was once Nigeria’s biggest political party, insiders have informed TheCable.

PDP members loyal to Atiku Abubakar are moving against Umar Ililya Damagum, the acting national chairman, over allegations that he is working for Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers state.

Wike led a group of five PDP governors that rebelled against Atiku, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.

Atiku lost the election to Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and is currently in court to challenge the outcome.

The rebellion led by Wike is believed to have contributed to Atiku’s loss.

Tinubu has now named Wike in his cabinet in what would further worsen the internal crisis in the PDP.

Atiku, party insiders told TheCable, has been unhappy with Damagum for allegedly hobnobbing with Wike.

Atiku’s biggest supporters — Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa, Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger, and Adamu Maina Waziri, former minister — have moved against the acting chairman, who took over from Iyorchia Ayu on March 2023 after a court order.

Ayu had been suspended by his ward in Benue state for alleged anti-party activities and he subsequently lost his legal battle to stay on.

Damagum and Ahmadu Fintiri, the governor of Adamawa, Atiku’s home state, have been accused of “hobnobbing” with Wike.

The Atiku loyalists also alleged that Damagum “mismanaged” the funds he inherited from the Ayu-led national working committee (NWC), an allegation he denies.

However, TheCable learnt that some Atiku’s proxies have also been reaching out to Wike to help with the party’s election cases at the tribunals across the country.