Fresh tension is brewing within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as more than 20 of its members in the House of Representatives have threatened to defect over an alleged plot by the party leadership to clear a nominee linked to an All Progressives Congress (APC) governor for the position of PDP National Woman Leader ahead of the forthcoming national convention.
Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State and Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), alongside over 20 other PDP lawmakers, vowed to dump the party if the alleged nominee is not disqualified during the screening exercise scheduled for Tuesday.
They accused the PDP leadership, led by Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, of colluding with some governors to secretly issue a nomination form to a woman allegedly nominated by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who, according to them, has since shifted allegiance to the APC.
“PDP lawmakers have uncovered a plot by pro-APC elements in our party to clear a nominee from APC Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu for the post of National Woman Leader,” the lawmakers said in a statement.
“Governor Mbah, who recently joined the APC from the PDP, nominated a woman who is not known to be a member of our party. It is shameful that PDP governors, instead of resisting this betrayal, are backing it. They have secretly issued her a nomination form instead of allowing the South East PDP, particularly Imo or Enugu, to produce a trusted party loyalist for the post.”
The lawmakers alleged that the move, coordinated by Damagum and Anyanwu, was part of a broader agenda to infiltrate the PDP leadership with individuals sympathetic to the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is the plan of Damagum and Anyanwu, to weaken the PDP from within by filling key leadership positions with pro-APC loyalists who will eventually endorse President Bola Tinubu as sole presidential candidate ahead of 2027,” the lawmakers claimed.
“We vow to dump the PDP if this woman nominated by an APC governor is not disqualified by Tuesday’s screening. This is non-negotiable.”
Party insiders disclosed that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) is under intense pressure to address the growing discontent before Tuesday’s screening to avert another round of internal rebellion and possible defections.
The aggrieved lawmakers further urged the NWC to nullify the alleged nomination and allow the South East PDP to produce a genuine and loyal candidate for the position, recommending the current Deputy Woman Leader, Mrs. Ifeanyinwa, as a consensus option.
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