Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting scheduled for today, a member of the party and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has warned that any decision taken at the meeting could either make or mar the party.


In a statement he issued on Wednesday night, Chidoka told the PDP governors and the National Assembly Caucus that any attempt by the PDP NEC to undermine the party’s constitution, may lead to “disaster that could sink the ship of the party”.

Recall that the NEC meeting coming up later today would, among other things, address whether the current acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, should retain his position or be replaced.


Recall that Damagum, who was the PDP Deputy National Chairman, North, emerged as the acting National Chairman of the party following the indefinite suspension of Iyorchia Ayu, in March 2023 by a court in Benue State.

While some of the party’s stakeholders believe that a member from the North Central must be elected to complete Ayu’s tenure as stipulated in the party’s constitution, others have endorsed Damagum as the next substantive chairman.

But according to Chidoka, “if at the NEC meeting, the Party fails to uphold the constitutionality and respect for the rules of the party, then I and other progressive members will not hesitate to lead the pallbearers to the funeral of the party as we know it.


“The party must put an end to its submission to filthy lucre and macabre dancing to the music of unprincipled pipers.

“It must return to the role of providing good governance to its states and principled opposition that Nigerians can trust.

“If the party’s ship is not steered away from the gigantic iceberg prominent on its path, the consequences will be dire.


“It is a matter of grave urgency to save the soul of the party that ushered and stabilised democracy in Nigeria.

…Stop Wike’s Use Of PDP To Remain Relevant In Tinubu’s Govt, Secondus Tells Party Leaders

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has passed a vote of confidence on the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum.

This was made known in a press statement on Wednesday by Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary.

Ologunagba said the NWC passed the vote of confidence on Damagum at the end of its 584th meeting at the party’s National Secretariat on Tuesday.

According to him, the PDP leaders took the decision in commendation of the efforts and commitment by Damagum to stabilize and reposition the party as the main opposition in Nigeria.

Ologunagba also disclosed that the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, presided over the motion for Vote of Confidence on the Acting National Chairman, which was moved by the National Vice Chairman (South East) Chief Ali Odefa and seconded by the National Treasurer, Yayari Mohammed.

“The NWC assures of its commitment in ensuring the continued stability, growth and success of our great party at all time,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) head into the much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, a former national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus has urged party leaders to stop the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike’s continuous use of PDP to remain relevant in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Secondus, in a statement by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, told PDP leaders that Wike’s busybody gimmick should not distract them from proving that no individual is bigger than the party, adding that the FCT minister is already drowning politically.

The former PDP chairman stated this in an advisory to PDP leaders assembling for the party’s 98th NEC meeting on Thursday, urging them to do everything humanly possible and within the law to rescue and restore the party’s glory.

The former PDP chairman said the former Rivers State governor is trying hard to create a non-existent crisis in the party to make himself relevant before his boss, President Tinubu, who he said to be getting fed up with his nuisance of bringing politics into the governance of the FCT.

“By deviously trying to create the impression that he is in a tussle of supremacy with the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Wike who is copiously losing political relevance everywhere from Rivers to Abuja is trying to give the impression that he is a factor in PDP and holding it for his APC interest.

“The critical structures of this party, NEC, BOT, National Caucus, forum of Governors, Chairmen of states and National Assembly caucus of the party must rise to the challenge and isolate mischief makers and meddlers like Wike and move the party forward,” Secondus said.

He charged the party leaders not to fall for Wike’s trick by giving him undeserved relevance which he no longer possesses.

“I expect the founding fathers and other dedicated members to rise to the challenge and return this great party to its glory by ensuring, as they always do at critical moments, that nobody or group is greater or bigger than this party,” he said.

By Augustine Akhilomen

Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu has joined the growing list of deputy governors that have been impeached from office since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

He became the 17th deputy governor to get the booth after he was sent packing a few days ago by the Edo State House of Assembly on accusations of perjury and disclosing state secrets.

Other deputy governors that have been impeached within this period include, Femi Pedro (Lagos), Iyiola Omisore (Osun), Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele (Lagos), Chris Ekpenyong (Akwa Ibom), Abiodun Aluko (Ekiti), Biodun Olujinmi (Ekiti), the late Garba Gadi (Bauchi), and Peremobowei Elebi (Bayelsa).

Others are, Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba), Jude Agbaso (Imo), Sunday Onyebuchi (Enugu), Ali Olanusi (Ondo), Eze Madumere (Imo), Simon Achuba (Kogi), Rauf Olaniyan (Oyo), and Mahdi Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara) have also been impeached.

It would be recalled that before his impeachment, Shaibu has been at loggerheads with his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, due to his decision to run for the 2024 Governorship race after Obaseki’s reign comes to an end. It appears Shaibu’s political ambition didn’t go down well with the governor, who apparently had other intentions in mind.

Obaseki had claimed that Shaibu was planning a “coup” to unseat him. The latter in turn accused his principal of trying to instigate the Edo State House of Assembly to impeach him.



Shaibu later contested the PDP governorship primary and declared himself a winner in a parallel election. However, businessman Asue Ighodalo was declared as the party’s flagbearer for the governorship election coming up later in the year.

With the impeachment of Shaibu on April 8, the question on the lips of political observers is what next for Shaibu and whether his impeachment will have an adverse effect on the PDP in the September 21 governorship or not, being a grassroots politician and a homeboy.

Though Shaibu has not disclosed his next political move, observers say he is likely to return to the APC, a party he left alongside Obaseki in 2020. Some are, indeed, of the opinion that he may join other parties such as Accord Party (AC), Social Development Party (SDP) and other available parties in order to pursue his political ambition. But then, does he have the financial muscle to consummate his political dream? Or is he just flash in the pan, making noise in order to be relevant?


One of the party stakeholders, Aslem Ojezua, noted that the development was not good for the party, especially as it approaches the governorship election with a divided house.


Ojezua, who was also an aspirant in the party for the governorship ticket, said Shaibu, like every other politician, has people, family members, and admirers, as well as those he patronised in the course of his political career as deputy governor.


“There is no substitute for peace, and you have seen what controversy and intransigence caused us last year. Last year’s national election was the worst election the PDP has had in Edo. PDP could not score 35 percent. Only God knows what we did to have the majority in the House of Assembly,” he said.

Even so, there are also growing fears from members of the PDP that Shaibu may possibly team up with Sen. Adams Oshiomhole in a bid to wreck PDP’s quest of retaining power in the state. Just two days ago, Shaibu received the acting Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Emperor Jaret Tenebe, in his Abuja residence. Tenebe, who said he was on a solidarity visit, described the impeachment as a sham and urged Shaibu to use all legal means to uphold the action.

Also, a political analyst, Joel Abayomi, who spoke with Thepledge stated that the impeachment of Shaibu will put the party into turmoil if not well managed before the election.

He also warned that Shaibu may decide to act as a spoiler by pitting tents with another party in order to prevent PDP from winning the election. “Yes, Shaibu has been impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly but I don’t think that is the best decision for Obaseki even though he doesn’t want him to pursue his political ambition.

“At this junction, Shaibu may be tempted to join another party since he has the grassroots support and may want to stand as a spoiler for PDP. It’s something that is achievable based on his popularity in Edo State.

“I just hope the party will immediately find a solution to resolving this crisis that is brewing if they are to win the governorship election”, Abayomi said.

On his part, the former PDP Secretary in the state, Hilary Otsu, said the impeachment will no doubt further deepen the crisis and division in the party. According to him, Shaibu has political clout and appeal for the younger generation, from the “student union generation to the comrade generation.”

Otsu words: “Party stakeholders are worried that the governor immediately went ahead to pick a Labour Party member as the deputy governor without consultations or Assembly approval for the deputy governor nominee.

“I don’t know where the governor is going with all this, and it is going to negatively impact the outcome of the September 21 governorship.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Philip Aivoji has urged Shaibu to remain in the party in spite of the development, and never to consider leaving the party at all.

He said that Shaibu could still become the governor of the state with perseverance and patience. “What we are concerned about is winning Edo back for PDP. The impeached deputy governor needs to be patient and hand over everything to God.

“Whatever happens, no one ever can tell, he (Shaibu) can still become the governor in the future. He should not leave the party.

“That is my advice because it is the party that brought him up. When he became the deputy governor, there were millions of people who could have become the deputy governor before the party picked him.

“Since this has happened, he should look for a way of mending fences to actualise his dream of becoming the governor. He can still become the governor,” he said.

It is yet to be seen if Shaibu will take that bold step of cross carpeting to another party in a bid to actualise his long term political ambition of governing Edo State. Or, will he succumb to the forces within PDP and work for the interest of the party? Only time will tell.

For now, the odds are against him. It will be difficult for him to get the ticket of a formidable party that can favourably compete with the big three, which are APC, PDP and LP. And it’s increasingly becoming difficult for APC leaders, the party he dumped to join PDP, to trust him. Shaibu therefore has few options before him as he faces a bumpy political future. He however has a few days to take a decision on his political future, which from all indications do not look good.