The bad blood generated in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by its loss of the 2023 presidential election snowballed into an open confrontation yesterday between the two main factions battling for the soul of the party.
Supporters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,the PDP presidential candidate in that election and those of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike launched into a battle of wits, with each side claiming to sack key party functionaries loyal to the other side.
The day broke with Atiku supporters announcing the suspension of the PDP acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, for alleged anti-party activities.
They proceeded to name Alhaji Yayari Mohammed as Damagum’s replacement.
Swift reactions came from the Wike faction which not only got a Federal High Court Abuja injunction restraining the party from removing Damagum,but also issued a counter statement suspending the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba for alleged disloyalty to the party.
Their offices at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja were under lock and key all day yesterday.
Ologunagba signed the statement suspending Damagum and Anyanwu.
The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) asked the gladiators to sheath their swords, de-escalate the tension and revert to the status quo to “preserve the unity and stability of our great party.”
The PDP Governors Forum said it was stepping into the matter and expressed optimism that the party would emerge stronger from the crisis.
Ologunagba in a statement early yesterday said Damagum and Anyanwu were suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.
His words: “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.”
A counter statement came from the Wike side a few hours later.
The PDP National secretariat’s Director of Publicity, Pastor Chinwe Nnorom who signed it said Ologunagba and Kamaldeen had been suspended.
She said: “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, respectively.
“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 investigation by the Committee: the officers are Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Esq, Acting National Publicity Secretary and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser.”
Soon afterward, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Manga issued a two-paragraph press statement announcing his assumption of office as Acting National Publicity Secretary in place of the ‘suspended ‘Ologunagba.
His words:“Arising from its 593rd meeting,10th October,2024,the National Working Committee has suspended the National Publicity Secretary and the National Legal Adviser of the Party,pending the determination of allegations of DISLOYALTY and INSUBORDINATION levelled against the duo
“In the meantime,the Deputies in the respective DIRECTORATES,Ibrahim Abdullahi and Barr Okechukwu Osuoha, have stepped-in in acting capacity.”
(The Nation)
