'War' in PDP as Atiku, top Governor scramble for control

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, is plotting to retain his grip on the party.

However, according to a report on Sunday, December 3, by The Nation, he and his loyalists are not comfortable with the party’s acting national chairman, Iliya Damagum.

The newspaper said according to its investigation, Atiku’s loyalists and pro-Wike/G5 and Damagum members have been at war in the past two weeks at the national secretariat of the party.

Atiku's camp accuse Damagum of being loyal to the G-5, led by the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

It was gathered that faced with the strong opposition in the PDP, Atiku, and some party leaders are giving full support to the suspended national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to win his case for reinstatement.

Party sources told The Nation that one of the major reasons the plot against Damagum has failed so far is the backing of Wike, the G-5, and some members of the PDP governors forum, led by Bauchi state governor Bala Mohammed.

Best way PDP can defeat APC, analyst

In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that a political analyst, Akinleye Oluwasegun, said "the best way" Nigeria's main opposition party, the PDP, can defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election "is through a merger".

Akinleye noted that Atiku has already called for the adoption of the merger strategy.