The Traffic

PDP Crisis: NWC Accused of Protecting Party Bigwigs from Sanctions

By Achimi Muktar

A growing storm within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to threaten its unity and future as the National Working Committee (NWC) is being accused of shielding top party members from sanctions ahead of the party’s critical convention in 2025. The accusations suggest that efforts to address erring members may be nothing more than a show, as the party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) remains under heavy scrutiny.

The controversy began with calls from various factions within the party to sanction members involved in anti-party activities, particularly those aligned with the rival camps of PDP’s 2023 presidential candidates. Key figures such as former governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), along with other prominent leaders like Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, were accused of undermining the party's cohesion during the election.

However, insiders now reveal that the PDP’s National Disciplinary Committee, established in August 2024, has failed to make any progress on its mandate. Despite the high-profile nature of the committee, headed by former Foreign Minister Tom Ikimi, its activities have remained largely secret, with little communication to the public or the party members. This has sparked fears that the committee might be deliberately toothless.

A senior PDP member, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the committee’s formation was "designed to fail," pointing to serious constitutional violations in its creation. He argued that the NDC, as composed by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, violated the party’s constitution, which dictates a smaller committee of just seven members. The 26-member NDC, the source claims, is stacked with loyalists of a single powerful party leader, which guarantees that no disciplinary action will be taken against his supporters.

“It’s clear this committee was set up to ensure no one is disciplined,” the source said. “It’s an open secret that the majority of the members are beholden to a particular faction, and they are simply buying time before the party convention next year.”

Amid these claims of dysfunction, a source within the party told Sunday PUNCH that the NDC was likely taking a cautious approach to avoid further fragmentation. “Our party is fragile; any action taken could split us even more,” one party official remarked. Another senior member suggested that the committee’s cautious stance might be a strategy to delay action until the party’s convention in 2025, where leaders expect some natural departures, including those seen as detrimental to the party’s future.

Despite these assurances, the committee’s silence has only deepened the crisis. A former deputy spokesperson for the party confirmed that the reconciliation efforts were taking precedence over disciplinary actions, with the party hoping that the upcoming convention would address the leadership turmoil.

Yet, some voices within the PDP still have faith in the committee’s potential. Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor dismissed the idea that the NDC was doomed to fail, calling it "insulting" to question the committee’s integrity, given the stature of its members. "We must give them time to do their work. It’s premature to assume failure," he said.

The controversy extends beyond the NDC’s operations. The PDP Governors’ Forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has called for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by February 2025. The meeting would serve as a platform for stakeholders to resolve the party's ongoing challenges and prepare for the upcoming leadership transition.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, addressing the forum, promised a renewed focus on the party’s stability, while Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde emphasized the need for reform. “We are determined to restore the PDP’s leadership role in Nigerian politics," Makinde said, signaling that the road to recovery would not be easy but necessary.

As the party navigates this crisis, the pressure is mounting on the NWC and the various committees it has set up. The next few months will be crucial for the PDP’s future—whether they can overcome these internal divisions and present a united front to challenge the ruling APC in the 2027 elections remains to be seen.