Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership. A faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
The Damagun-led national leadership had on Saturday suspended four members of the party’s NWC for a period of one month.
The suspended national officers are the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; national organising secretary, Umar Bature; national legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and deputy national legal adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.
Premised on the suspension, the national secretary, Anyanwu while briefing journalists in Abuja on behalf of the factional NWC, announced the party’s national vice chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the acting national chairman.
He stated, “Unfortunately, some people may say that the national secretary, national organising secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the national legal adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.
“On this note, we decided to suspend the national chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgment. He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.
“Secondly, we also suspended the national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for issuing statements without the party’s approval, and the deputy national vice chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has also been suspended.
“The national financial secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro, who has been involved in alleged financial misconduct, has also been suspended.
“The national youth leader, Sulaiman Kadade, and the deputy national secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended for 30 days. All of them will be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled.
Meanwhile, a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has congratulated the new acting national Chairman of the party, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman.
Fayose, who urged the new national chairman to urgently bring peace and unity to the party, said there was no better time to have a new direction for the party than now.
While reacting to the emergence of Abdulrahman Mohammed, Fayose said the PDP was in dire need of a new direction and the new Acting National Chairman should step in immediately to provide it.
“I congratulate the new chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman. I urge him to unite the party and restore confidence in its members.
“Most importantly, he should look into the shenanigans and injustice done in States like Ekiti and others with a view to correcting them in accordance with the party constitution and existing court pronouncements.
“He should also be a team player and ensure the emergence of a new National Working Committee through a valid National Convention, which should be done immediately after outstanding congresses are held in states and zones, and those done against court judgements are revisited,” Fayose said.
