The deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another turn over the weekend as former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, publicly endorsed Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman as the factional Acting National Chairman of the party.
Abdulrahman’s emergence followed the suspension of the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other National Working Committee (NWC) members by a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Fayose, speaking during the event attended by key PDP stakeholders, including prominent Ekiti governorship aspirant, Dr. Funso Ayeni, congratulated Abdulrahman and charged him to make party unity and justice his top priorities.
He emphasized that the new leadership must focus on reconciliation and fairness across all state chapters, particularly where members had been sidelined or unjustly treated.
“I congratulate the new chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman. I urge him to unite the party, heal divisions, and restore confidence among members. The time has come to give the PDP a new direction and return it to its founding principles of justice, equity, and inclusiveness,” Fayose said.
He called on the factional leadership to immediately address grievances within the Ekiti State chapter and other affected states, stressing that internal democracy and adherence to court pronouncements were non-negotiable.
Fayose also urged Abdulrahman to work as a team player in ensuring a valid National Convention that would produce a credible National Working Committee capable of repositioning the PDP for future elections.
The endorsement by Fayose, a two-term governor and influential voice in the South-West PDP is seen as a major boost for the Wike-backed faction.
Political observers say his move strengthens the legitimacy of the Abdulrahman-led leadership and signals a shifting power balance within the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the faction led by the embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, justified the suspension of Damagum and other NWC members, accusing them of incompetence and disregard for court orders. The Wike-aligned group insists that its action was necessary to rescue the PDP from what it described as “drifting leadership.”