Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind the plot to unseat the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum. The PUNCH learned on Sunday that Atiku reached out to members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) advocating for Damagum’s ouster.

This move to remove Damagum has divided the 13 state governors elected on the PDP platform. While seven governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, are pushing for Damagum’s removal, four others, led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, support his retention. The pro-Damagum governors are allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is in conflict with the PDP Governors’ Forum.

Atiku and Wike fell apart ahead of last year’s general elections, with Wike leading five PDP governors to oppose Atiku’s presidential bid.

A senior member of the PDP NWC, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak publicly, confirmed that the former Vice President had reached out to some of the anti-Damagum forces and other party stakeholders. The source stated, “We are not alone; important leaders in the party, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have spoken with some of us.”