●Wike, Bauchi gov’s camp reject Atiku’s plot to impose David Mark
The crises rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are gaining momentum, as key protagonists in the ensuing drama, are unwilling to retreat.
In the latest development, three camps have emerged in the festering crisis. The Postcard has gathered that the relatively peaceful honeymoon between the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has collapsed.
The PDP had planned Its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting originally for October 24, but jettisoned it over the lingering crises and the inability of the feuding parties to reach an agreement.
The national chairman, Umar Damagum’s faction of the National Working Committee (NWC), recently announced the suspension of the national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba and the national legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade over alleged insubordination and actions detrimental to the party.
Ologunagba, immediately countered by stating that the NWC had suspended Damagum and the national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu for disloyalty and appointed the national treasurer, Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the acting national chairman.
Over a fortnight ago, PDP Governors Forum chairman and Bauchi State governor, Mohammed, declared that the internal conflicts had been resolved and suspensions lifted. He added that the NWC had reverted to the status quo under Damagum.
Damagum is believed to be loyal to Wike and enjoys the support of the former governor of Rivers State.
Wike and Mohammed have been at loggerheads, with both leaders threatening to undo one another. While Wike has openly opposed any plans to covertly removed the acting national chairman, Damagum, Mohammed and some governors, including a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, are pushing for his ouster.
The Postcard has gathered that Mohammed has parted ways with Atiku, over plans by the former Vice President to impose a national chairman from North Central on the party.
The source said Atiku and his allies have endorsed a former President of the Senate, David Mark to emerge as a consensus chairman of the PDP.
The move, it was learned, has rattled Mohammed, who has rejected the plans by Atiku to impose his surrogate on the party. According a competent source, Mohammed is worried that if Mark is allowed to emerge, he will support Atiku to emerge as the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2027.
It was further gathered that regional leaders from the South, are also opposed to Atiku’s nominee and may align with Wike to oppose the emergence of a Northern candidate in 2027.
Meanwhile, more governors have switched to the camp of Wike since the new phase of the crisis started.
A source said Mohammed has failed to convince the governors, who are also uncomfortable with the Bauchi governor’s support for Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara.
One of the sources said: “The NEC meeting was postponed for a number of reasons. Those pushing for that meeting didn’t have the required number to effect any leadership changes. They were worried that if they had failed, that would have further cemented their chances of ever taking over the control of the PDP.
“The governors also needed to agree first and that was not possible. The governors were sharply divided and Wike still has a strong grip on many of them. Those who were initially willing to join Mohammed of Bauchi State reneged because they believe he was working with Atiku.
“Atiku is still nursing an ambition to return in 2027 and run again. PDP Governors don’t want that to happen. So, as long as Atiku doesn’t give up on his ambition to run again in 2027, the PDP crisis will never be over.”
