The crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as more than 20 federal lawmakers have threatened to dump the party over an alleged plot to install a nominee of an All Progressives Congress (APC) governor as the next PDP National Woman Leader.
The lawmakers, in a statement signed by their spokesman, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, accused the PDP leadership of secretly issuing a nomination form to a woman allegedly nominated by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who recently defected to the APC.
According to the statement, the move is being orchestrated by pro-APC elements within the PDP in connivance with some party leaders ahead of the national convention scheduled for Tuesday.
PDP lawmakers have uncovered a new plot by pro-APC elements in our party to clear a nominee from an APC governor, Gov. Mbah of Enugu, for the post of national woman leader.
Governor Peter Mbah, who recently joined APC from PDP, has nominated a pro-APC woman not known to be a member of our party, yet PDP leaders are preparing to clear her at the Tuesday screening.
The lawmakers expressed outrage that instead of allowing the Southeast PDP, particularly Imo or Enugu, to produce a loyal and credible candidate for the position, the leadership is allegedly backing Mbah’s nominee.
They accused PDP governors and top officials, including acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum and Governor Seyi Makinde, of aiding the infiltration of APC sympathizers into the PDP.
It’s shameful that PDP governors who should be angry with Mbah are now supporting his nominee. They secretly issued her a nomination form instead of giving it to a faithful PDP woman from Imo or Enugu.
The lawmakers further claimed the move is part of a wider plan by Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu to fill PDP with pro-APC members who will later endorse President Bola Tinubu as sole presidential candidate in 2027.
They issued a strong warning that they would leave the PDP if the alleged APC nominee is not disqualified during Tuesday’s screening.
This is non-negotiable. The nomination form should be withdrawn from the APC nominee and issued to another person from Imo or Enugu, preferably the current woman leader, Mrs. Ifeanyinwa.
As the PDP braces for its national convention, observers say this latest confrontation could further polarize the opposition party and heighten fears of large-scale defections ahead of the 2027 elections.
