Atiku Abubakar is strongly believed to be warming up already for the 2027 race, is currently plotting to retain his grip on the PDP.
But he and his loyalists are uncomfortable with the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum.
They accuse Damagum of being loyal to the G-5 axis of the party led by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
It was learnt that all political options to get rid of Damagum, including the forceful return of the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, have failed to materialise.
The major reasons the plot against Damagum has failed so far is the backing of Wike, the G-5 and some members of the PDP Governors Forum. The Forum is led Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who is interested in the 2027 presidential race himself.
Atiku and some party leaders are giving full support to the suspended National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to win his case for reinstatement.
Although Ayu is no longer keen to return to office, Atiku and his supporters are of the view that a fight-to-the-finish in the court is the only option left to rescue PDP from Wike and the G-5.
The cold war in the party and the pending court case accounted for the reluctance of a former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to succumb to pressure to become the next national chairman of PDP.
Saraki was said to be “not keen” to preside over a divided party. He is allegedly biding time to watch the direction the pendulum of the PDP crisis will swing.
