The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is unlikely to be resolved unless the party holds its National Convention. The convention, originally scheduled for August 28–30 in Kano State, was postponed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State
The convention is expected to elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and prepare the party for the 2027 presidential election.
The PDP is currently led by Umar Damagum as acting chairman, after Iyorchia Ayu was removed following a long period of internal conflict.
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As the new date approaches, all eyes are on who will become the next party chairman. The position is seen as key to uniting members and strengthening the PDP before the 2027 elections. The NEC has called for credible and capable leaders to join the race, but there is still disagreement over whether the party should choose a consensus candidate.
Many party members are now pushing for a consensus arrangement before the November NWC elections. Some of the well-known figures who may be interested in the chairmanship include Jerry Gana, Umar Damagum, Kawu Baraje, and Ahmed Makarfi.
In this article, The New Daily Prime profiles these contenders, spotlighting their past and present roles within the PDP and the wider political landscape.
Jerry Gana
Gana is a veteran politician and academic, elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1983, and later appointed Director of the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI).
Under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, he served as Director of the Mass Mobilisation for Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER). During the Interim National Government led by Ernest Shonekan, Gana held the position of Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
He later became Minister of Information and Culture under General Sani Abacha, and subsequently served as Minister of Cooperation and Integration in Africa under President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also served as Minister of Information and National Orientation during that period.
Gana was a political adviser to Obasanjo before declaring his intention to run for president in June 2006.
Earlier, in 1992, he contested the presidency on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), albeit unsuccessfully. In 1998, he became a founding national secretary of the PDP and later served as Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees.
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In August 2006, after resigning as Special Adviser to Obasanjo, Gana declared his intention to contest for the PDP presidential ticket in the 2007 general elections.
He eventually defected from the PDP to the SDP and announced his candidacy for the 2019 presidential election under the party’s banner. However, he lost the ticket to former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke.
In 2021, Gana returned to the PDP alongside several of his supporters, pledging his commitment to work for the party’s progress and declaring they were “back for good.”
Kawu Baraje
Baraje is a seasoned public administrator and politician. Before venturing into politics, he served in various capacities within the Kwara State civil service, rising through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary. He voluntarily retired from civil service in 2006 without a blemish.
Following his retirement, Baraje entered politics and played a prominent role in the 2007 presidential campaign of the PDP.
He served as Assistant Director of Administration, working closely with the late President Musa Yar’Adua during nationwide campaign tours, which culminated in a landslide victory for the party.
Baraje was later elected National Secretary of the PDP at the party’s national convention. He went on to serve as Acting National Chairman of the PDP between 2011 and 2012.
In 2013, Baraje led a faction of the PDP, known as the ‘New PDP,’ which eventually merged with the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 general elections.
He remained in the APC until 2018, when he rejoined the PDP after leading the breakaway Reformed APC (R-APC). Upon his return, he expressed gratitude to the PDP for welcoming him and his supporters back into the party.
Ahmed Makarfi
Makarfi is a former governor of Kaduna State, a former Senator for Kaduna North Senatorial District (elected in April 2007), and an influential member of the PDP.
He was appointed National Chairman of the PDP at a convention held in Port Harcourt in 2016. However, he was removed in 2017 when Ali Modu Sheriff was declared chairman.
Makarfi was later reinstated following a ruling by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court.
In June 2018, after extensive consultations with stakeholders, Makarfi declared his interest in the PDP presidential nomination ahead of the 2019 general election.
He was one of 12 aspirants at the party’s convention held in Port Harcourt on 6 October 2018, where he placed fifth, with Atiku Abubakar emerging as the winner.
Before the primaries, Makarfi publicly ruled out the possibility of defecting from the PDP, stating that he would rather retire from politics than join another party. He has remained a committed PDP member since.
Umar Damagum
Damagum, the current acting National Chairman of the PDP, previously served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Romania. In the 2019 general elections, he contested the governorship of Yobe State under the PDP but lost to the APC candidate, Mala Buni.
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Before becoming acting chair, Damagum held the position of PDP Deputy National Chairman (North). His appointment followed internal restructuring within the party leadership.
