The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is facing an escalating internal crisis, with the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) receiving approximately 30 petitions against party leaders from the National Working Committee (NWC). This revelation comes despite the NDC’s announcement of only five petitions on Thursday.
According to a senior NWC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the party leadership handed over around 30 petitions to the NDC. However, Tom Ikimi, the chairman of the NDC, only announced five petitions, sparking concerns about the committee’s transparency and potential ulterior motives.
The NDC has summoned several prominent party members, including former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to appear before the committee on February 12. The committee’s decision to invite these members is seen as a step towards addressing the internal conflicts plaguing the party.
The PDP has been grappling with internal conflicts since the 2023 presidential election, with some members accusing others of undermining the party’s interests. The NWC established the disciplinary committee in August 2024 to address these issues, but the crisis has only worsened, with two members claiming the position of National Secretary.
The Board of Trustees (BoT) has weighed in on the issue, instructing the NWC to swear in Sunday Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary. The BoT’s decision is based on a fact-finding committee’s report, which concluded that Ude-Okoye has been the authentic National Secretary since 2023.
As the PDP struggles to resolve its internal conflicts, the party’s image and influence continue to suffer. The disciplinary committee’s actions will be closely watched, and it remains to be seen whether the party can overcome its current challenges.
