Tension Rises As PDP Governors Convene Over Rivers Emergency Rule, Party Crisis!

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are gathering in Ibadan, Oyo State, between Sunday and Monday to address pressing challenges threatening the party’s cohesion and long-term viability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A major focus of the meeting is the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, especially the ongoing legal battle at the Supreme Court over the federal government’s move to declare a state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who also holds the position of Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

The meeting, confirmed by PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, will also touch on several other critical matters, including the urgent need to form a united opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, the delay in convening National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, and the unrelenting leadership crisis rocking the party.

According to insiders, one point of contention among the governors is the Supreme Court’s recent decision reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary. The judgment, which reversed an earlier Court of Appeal ruling that affirmed Anyanwu’s removal, goes against the preference of the governors, who back Sunday Ude-Okoye. With the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling now in their possession, the governors are expected to deliberate strategically on the implications.

“The governors are going to be blunt in their discussions,” a source disclosed. “What they decide in Ibadan may determine whether the PDP survives or sinks.”

The agenda also includes discussions on the ongoing National Working Committee (NWC) leadership crisis, a zonal dispute in the South-South, and efforts to build a coalition with other opposition parties. Despite a growing call for a strong opposition alliance to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insiders say the effort has been stymied by competing personal ambitions and lack of coordination.

“The opposition is currently disjointed,” another party source observed. “Nigerians want a credible alternative, but the opposition isn’t rising to the occasion.”

Party insiders revealed to Vanguard that over 75% of PDP members are fed up with the chaos and leadership vacuum, with many contemplating leaving the party. “A lot of people have mentally checked out,” an insider said. “If nothing drastic is done soon, PDP could fade into political obscurity before 2027.”

In a bid to rescue the party from collapse, several PDP elders and heavyweights—including former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, PDP Governors Forum Chairman Governor Bala Mohammed, ex-Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, and key allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—have begun consultations to chart a path forward.