The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has divided into factions, suspending and counter-suspending the party’s key national officers for alleged anti-party activities.
The acting national chairman, Umar Damagum; the secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; the legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN; and the publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba; are caught in the raft of the suspension and counter-suspension.
One of the factions aligned with Damagum had rolled off the suspension train and suspended Ajibade, Ologunagba, for alleged disloyalty to the party.
Shortly after, another faction, including the suspended officers, fired back, and counter-suspended Damagum, and Anyanwu, for the same alleged offence.
In the early hours of Friday, Damagum’s NWC faction fired the first salvo and suspended Ologunagba and Ajibade SAN, in a statement by the party’s national director of publicity, Chinwe Nnorom.
The statement said that the party had established a committee, led by the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the concerns raised against the officers in accordance with the party’s Constitution.
According to the statement: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thursday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Hon Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside.
“As a result, the NWC constituted a committee to be chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South) H.E. Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.
“Following the NWC’s Decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in acting capacity with effect from Friday, October 11, 2014, pending the conclusion of an investigation by the Committee. The officers are Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Acting National Publicity Secretary, and Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser’
“The NWC enjoins all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members, and supporters of our great Party to remain focused and committed as it pilots the day-to-day affairs of the PDP for its greater good.”
Shortly after, the other faction responded and counter suspended Damagum and Anyanwu for the same offence levelled against them.
Damagum’s and Anyanwu’s suspension was announced in a statement on Friday, by the party’s national publicity secretary Ologunagba, saying:
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has extensively considered the series of complaints raised against the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No:CA/PH/307/2024 against the party’s position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats upon decamping from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.
“Consequently, the NWC, pursuant to Sections 57, 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party respectively and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”
The PDP has faced internal crises since the 2003 presidential election, with Ologunagba and Ajibade recently emerging as key voices, urging the National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to adhere to the party’s constitution in its daily operations.
The present crisis adds to the assignment of a 25-member reconciliatory committee headed by a former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, which is moving around the country to revamp the party’s fortune.
