Fresh cracks have widened within the Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party following the suspension of a newly elected factional chairman, Peter Tongshep, in a move that underscores deepening internal divisions tied to competing political loyalties.
Tongshep, who emerged as chairman during a controversial factional congress held last Tuesday, was suspended shortly after his election by the mainstream leadership of the party in the state. His emergence, alongside 38 other executive members, has now intensified an already fragile situation within the PDP, with rival blocs struggling for control and legitimacy.
Before his elevation, Tongshep served as PDP chairman in Mikang Local Government Area and held the position of Southern Zone Vice Chairman, making him a familiar figure within the party’s grassroots structure. However, his alignment with a powerful political bloc linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, appears to have placed him at the centre of the unfolding crisis.
The factional congress that produced Tongshep drew the presence and support of several high-profile PDP figures believed to be loyal to Wike. Among them were former Minister of Sports, Damishi Sango, and former minister Musa I. Azi, as well as respected members of the party’s Board of Trustees, including Timothy Golu and Johnbul Shekarau.
The gathering, which many in the rival camp have dismissed as illegitimate, was defended by its organisers as a necessary intervention to salvage the party from what they described as stagnation and internal decay.
Speaking at the event, Sango, a founding member of the PDP, justified the move, insisting that the emergence of a new leadership structure was critical to the party’s survival in Plateau State. He argued that without decisive action, the PDP risked losing relevance in the state’s evolving political landscape.
“We cannot fold our arms and watch the party crumble. This step is about rescuing the PDP and repositioning it for future electoral success,” Sango reportedly stated, reflecting the sentiment within the Wike-aligned faction.
However, the official state leadership of the PDP has rejected both the congress and its outcome, describing the exercise as unconstitutional and a violation of party rules. The swift suspension of Tongshep is widely seen as an attempt to reassert authority and send a strong message against parallel structures within the party.
Political observers note that the crisis mirrors broader tensions within the PDP at the national level, where allegiances to key figures, including Wike, have continued to shape internal power struggles. The Plateau situation, they argue, is a microcosm of the party’s ongoing battle to maintain unity ahead of future elections.
As both factions dig in, the immediate future of the PDP in Plateau State remains uncertain. With legal battles and further disciplinary actions likely, party members and supporters are watching closely to see whether reconciliation is possible or if the divisions will deepen further.
For now, the suspension of Tongshep has not only raised questions about leadership legitimacy but has also highlighted the fragile state of cohesion within one of Nigeria’s major political parties.
