Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a “hopeless situation” and currently has no prospect of returning to power, following deepening internal crises within its leadership.
Fayose, speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, backed the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, by a faction of the PDP, while congratulating Mohammed Abdulrahman, the National Vice Chairman (North Central), on his emergence as Acting National Chairman.
“The party needs a leader who can reunite everybody at this time. There is no hope of PDP coming back for now. Even the captains of our boat are jumping ship. The Damagum-led National Working Committee are undertakers — they have come to bury the party,” Fayose said.
He, however, expressed hope that Abdulrahman could “rescue” the PDP and restore order within its ranks. “We are happy we have a new acting chairman, Abdulrahman. He should reposition the party, make necessary corrections in the state chapters, and prepare for the convention,” he added.
The former governor accused Damagum of incompetence and manipulating party structures to consolidate power. “Damagum will go the way of Iyorchia Ayu. He was never supposed to be chairman; he only represented an interregnum but created more confusion,” Fayose stated.
The PDP plunged further into crisis on Saturday after a faction announced the suspension of Damagum and five other members of the National Working Committee over alleged incompetence, financial misconduct, and disobedience to court rulings.
National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu announced Abdulrahman as acting chairman, saying the decision was taken “to restore order and due process” within the party.
Meanwhile, Damagum’s faction countered with its own suspensions, further deepening the leadership rift.
