ABUJA – A deepening crisis within Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), escalated on Monday after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order restraining the electoral commission from recognizing the outcomes of its planned national convention.
The court’s decision has ignited a fierce internal power struggle, exposing significant fractures within the party. In a rapid series of events, the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) suspended several high-ranking officials, including the National Secretary.
In a dramatic turn, a rival faction within the party immediately issued counter-suspensions, targeting the National Chairman and the National Publicity Secretary. This move has created a state of confusion, with two groups now claiming authority.
A PDP chieftain, Sani Umar, dismissed the counter-suspensions as “desperate, illegal, and reactionary,” stating that the NWC’s earlier action was backed by a majority and followed due process.
Umar also criticized the court ruling, calling it “prejudicial and politically motivated,” and revealed plans to appeal the judgment and petition the National Judicial Council.
Party insiders suggest the turmoil is a proxy battle for control of the party’s structure and its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. With court battles and internal rebellion, the road ahead for the PDP appears uncertain as it struggles to present a united front.
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