As the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party persists, new factional acting National Chairman Yayari Mohammed has challenged the rival National Working Committee led by Umar Damagum to act on their security threats.

The acting National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi of the Damagum-led NWC faction, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday warned of potential security measures against Mohammed’s faction in order to uphold the rule of law during the ongoing internal disputes.

The opposition party has been embroiled in an internal crisis since 2022, which has polarised its NWC.

The crisis rocking the PDP took a twist on Friday when its national leadership broke into two factions with Yayari Mohammed, and the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, leading each of the two factions.

PDP’s factionalisation followed the suspension of its National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, by a faction of the NWC led by Damagum, on Friday, after the 593rd meeting of the NWC on Thursday.

Ibrahim Abdullahi and Okechukwu Osuoha were appointed by the faction to replace the duo in acting capacities.

But in a counter statement, the National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, by the NWC due to what the statement described as the series of complaints raised against the duo.

On the same day, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja restrained the NEC, the highest decision-making organ of the party, and the Board of Trustees from removing Damagum as the acting national chairman.

In a judgment delivered via Zoom, Justice Peter Lifu ordered that apart from Damagum, no other person must be recognised as the PDP acting national chairman until the party’s convention scheduled for December 2025.

Speaking on the basis of the court order at the press conference on Monday, Abdullahi, warned the Mohammed group against disobeying the judgment recognising Damagum as the authentic chairman of the party.

He stated, “We must ensure that certain actions are not guided by sentiments and personal interests, but by the party’s constitution.

“In the face of this reckless violation of a subsisting court order, we are left with no option but to deploy the services of security agencies to enforce the rule of law.”

Abdullahi added that to enhance the learning process of party leadership and administration, members must ensure that actions were based on the party’s constitution and existing guidelines, rather than influenced by “sentiments and personal interests.”

He added, “Let all concerned know that the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, my humble self, now acting National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Legal Adviser and now Acting National Legal Adviser assumed office following the Decision of the NWC; and it is in line with the PDP Constitution (2017 as Amended) following the absence of our substantive officers.

“It is made abundantly clear in Section 40(2) and 42(2).

“It is therefore distasteful for a leader who ought to inform the uninformed but instead goes ahead to misinform on a national television and other media channels that our assumption of office in acting capacity is unconstitutional and does not exist.

“Furthermore, we are constrained to express our utter disgust and disappointment in our colleagues’ resort to motor park approach to a mere suspension aimed at providing them with the opportunity to clear themselves of certain allegations against them.

“Although we have detailed knowledge of the drummers, the masqueraders should have been guided in their dance steps to avert stripping themselves naked on the stage.”

However, in an interview (with The Punch) on Monday, new factional chairman Mohammed stated that they would heed the party leaders rather than respond to threats.

He stated, “We have submitted all our positions and views to the organs of the party: the governors’ forum, the Board of Trustees, and other members of the party.

“We have expressed our concerns and reasons for our stance.

“They have assured us that they will take a position and get back to us.

“Therefore, we are not worried about any threats; they should go ahead and carry out theirs.

“We have expressed our concerns clearly.

“The party’s constitution should be obeyed, and that is our demand.

“I am also sure that from now till Friday our leaders will get back to us.

“We will listen to them and not to threats.”

Meanwhile, the governors elected under the PDP adjourned their meeting regarding the crisis to Tuesday (today) after Monday’s meeting ended without the governors reaching a compromise.

A national officer of the party under anonymity confirmed that the meeting held via Zoom.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state, as “unpatriotic.”

This statement from the ruling party followed remarks made by Amaechi, a former minister of transportation.

Amaechi had expressed disappointment in Nigerians, criticizing their passive reaction to the ongoing economic hardships across the country. He said, “There should be protests. Not even protests against anybody but against the politicians that ‘we won’t vote.'”

In response, Felix Morka, APC national spokesperson, issued a statement on Friday accusing Amaechi of being “a leading participant in the generational devastation of our country’s economy.”

Morka further stated, “Attempting to hoodwink Nigerians into his web of false empathy and incitement to violence is hypocritical, provocative and dangerous.”

He added that, “The only real anger that Amaechi and his fellow tribesmen of naysayers of the likes of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, must feel is that they are not in the saddle of government today.

“But that was a decision made by Nigeria’s ultimate political authority – the electorate.”

Morka also highlighted that “Nigerians are highly perceptive, discerning, demure, and mindful that economic discomforts associated with the administration’s inevitable reforms are transient and will pale into insignificance in comparison to the enduring transformative dividends which are already beginning to manifest.”

He emphasized, “Nigerians will not be cajoled into taking back through street violence what they handed to the administration through the ballot, as Amaechi and his partisan tribesmen would wish.”

Morka concluded by advising Amaechi to focus on “trying to solve the crippling crisis in Rivers state that he once governed.”

Former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that he has never sponsored thugs during his political career.

Amaechi, who served as the governor of Rivers state from 2007 to 2015 and later as the minister of transportation under President Muhammadu Buhari, explained in an interview with ABN TV that his priest had warned him against promoting political violence, as it could jeopardize his chances of getting into heaven.

He said, “Let me quote former President Jonathan, he said, no life worth my ambition. You will not see me in any political meeting planning for thugs, you will not see me say this money is for thugs; I will not.”

He further explained, “My Priest tells me that anybody who dies in the course of that money, you will be held accountable. The society may not hold you accountable or send you to prison because you are a big man — but God will not allow you into heaven because he will hold you accountable. I don’t want to miss heaven.”

Amaechi emphasized that he teaches his family to live by these principles, adding, “That’s why I teach my children, my wife can testify, I teach it at home, we would like to go to heaven.”

He addressed public misconceptions, saying, “When they say I am stubborn it’s not correct; I’m only disciplined. Let one person, including my former boss, say that I betrayed him before, and you will see if it is true or not when I say my own story.”

His remarks come amid rising tensions between the current Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over control of the state’s political structure.

The political crisis escalated after local government elections were marked by violence at secretariats in Emohua, Eleme, and Ikwerre.

In the interview, Amaechi described Rivers state as the “capital of betrayal,” claiming that many politicians in the state owe their careers to him.

He said his key principles in mentoring young politicians were honesty and public service, adding, “Name one politician in Port Harcourt that is in the space that didn’t pass through me.”

Referring to Fubara, he said, “Sim (Fubara) was an accountant under me, he was an accountant under Wike. When I became governor, Wike became Chief of Staff but, I don’t like calling his name; unfortunately, I don’t know why I’m calling his name.”

Amaechi continued, “Just name any Rivers politician that didn’t pass through me — only people you can mention are the likes of Prince Uche Secondus; we were contemporaries, maybe Senator Lee.”

He attributed the current political climate to a lack of character among today’s politicians, stating, “It’s not about mentorship; it’s about hunger. A lot of them are hungry and could not manage the situation.”

Reflecting on his own political journey, Amaechi said, “I joined politics at the age of 22 and there were two camps: Rufus George camp, very poor and broke; we hardly had food to eat and Abule’s camp which was very rich and everybody was rushing to him, he had a bank.”

He added, “But those of us who bothered about character, because my father taught me character, stood with Rufus without knowing if we would win or not. And at the end of the day, God delivered us and we became government. He became governor and I became Special Assistant.”

Finally, Amaechi contrasted today’s politicians with those of his time, saying, “The crop of politicians then are different from what we have now, I am not interested in politics…I will discuss politics at the right time.”