The crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) intensified as acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, clarified that the National Working Committee (NWC) had not yet convened to address the court ruling concerning the Rivers State Executives.
This statement came in response to claims made by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, which were refuted by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Abdullahi expressed concern over Ologunagba’s recent actions, accusing him of acting out of personal interest.
The ongoing conflict between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over the control of the PDP structure in Rivers State has further exacerbated tensions within the party.
Despite several unsuccessful reconciliation attempts, Wike’s faction won the Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses in July and August 2024, with Fubara’s allies boycotting these elections due to a court order.
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On January 13, 2025, the Rivers State High Court issued a restraining order that prevented the executive committees led by Aaron Chukwuemeka, aligned with Wike, from functioning.
The court also granted an injunction prohibiting these executives from holding positions in the party.
Following this, Ologunagba issued a statement on Thursday claiming that the PDP had accepted the court’s verdict and recognised the faction led by Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor, aligned with Governor Fubara, as the legitimate executives of the Rivers State PDP.
However, Abdullahi vehemently denied Ologunagba’s claims, stating that the NWC had not met since September of the previous year and, therefore, could not have accepted the judgment recognising Ewor’s group.
He further accused Ologunagba of acting independently and without proper authority, particularly in reference to statements made about judgments in Imo and Ebonyi States.
Abdullahi stressed that the National Publicity Secretary was not authorised to speak on behalf of the NWC without prior clearance, criticising Ologunagba for undermining party protocols.
He also stated that personal sentiment appeared to be influencing Ologunagba’s actions, which were having a detrimental effect on his role within the party.
