The internal crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deepens as the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, clarified that the National Working Committee (NWC) has not convened to address the court ruling on the Rivers State Executives. This contradicts claims made by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

During a press conference in Abuja on Friday, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi expressed concern over Ologunagba’s recent statements, suggesting that they were motivated by personal interests. Abdullahi also rejected Ologunagba’s assertion that the NWC had accepted the court ruling, which recognized the executive led by Hon. Nname Robinson Ewor, aligned with Governor Sim Fubara.

The crisis stems from a power struggle between Rivers State Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over the control of the party’s structure in the state. Despite failed reconciliation attempts, Wike’s faction emerged victorious in the party congresses held in late July and August 2024. Fubara’s faction had boycotted the congresses, citing a court order.

On January 13, 2025, a Rivers State High Court issued a restraining order preventing the executive committees led by Wike’s ally Aaron Chukwuemeka from functioning, also barring them from serving as PDP officers in the state. Ologunagba had claimed that the NWC recognized Ewor’s faction as the legitimate executive, but Abdullahi refuted this, emphasizing that the NWC had not met since September 2024 and had not accepted the judgment.

Abdullahi further criticized Ologunagba for issuing unauthorized statements about similar issues in Imo and Ebonyi states, arguing that the Publicity Secretary should not speak for the NWC without prior approval. Efforts to contact Ologunagba for comment were unsuccessful.