The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee has factionalised due to issues in Rivers State and the conflict between the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed.
Since taking over after Senator Iyorchia Ayu was removed by a court, the party’s factional acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has faced growing internal criticism, prompting calls for his resignation.
The controversy erupted after Damagum and other NWC members, in support of Wike, won consent for contentious PDP Congresses in Rivers State and moved the National Executive Committee meeting from September 26 to October 24.
The underlying rivalry between Wike and the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, heated up on August 24 when PDP governors openly stated their support for their Rivers counterpart and called for a review of state congresses.
Wike responded on August 31 by threatening to disrupt activity in the governors’ states if they continued to intervene in Rivers State affairs, but the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State governor, condemned Wike’s threats as reckless on September 3.
Meanwhile, Fubara monitored local government elections on October 5, which resulted in a defeat for Wike’s campaign because 22 of the 23 newly elected chairmen were from the Action Peoples Party.
However, in a surprising decision, the NWC suspended its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), according to a statement issued by the party’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, on Friday.
It was reported that Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) led the NWC group that persistently opposed Damagum’s efforts to give over control of the PDP to Wike, particularly on matters in Rivers State.
The statement read in part, “The National Working Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, arising from its 593rd meeting today, Thursday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser, 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 the investigation by the Committee. The officers are: “Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Esq., Acting National Publicity Secretary, and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser.”.
Moments later, a statement issued by Ologunagba on Friday announced that the NWC had suspended Damagum and National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu for alleged PDP treachery.
The Ologunagba faction of the NWC also named National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as acting National Chairman.
The statement read in part, “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.
“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.
“Following the suspension of His Excellency, Amb. Illiya Damagum, as the Acting National Chairman of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party, the National Working Committee has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman.”
Chronicle NG gathered that Wike directed his supporters in the NWC led by Damagum to suspend Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) for opposing his interests in Rivers State and obstructing his control of the party structure at national.
A senior NWC member from Mohammed’s group, who requested anonymity, indicated that Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) were suspended not just for the Rivers problem but also for their constant criticism of Damagum’s party financial management.
The source stated, “The NWC has been divided for a while. The division was largely caused by Wike and Fubara’s conflict over the Rivers structure. But the division became known to the public on Thursday after the rancorous NWC meeting.”
Ibrahim Abdullahi, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Damagum faction, said at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday that the suspension of Ajibade and Ologunagba is due to the Rivers conflict.
Abdullahi explained that the Damagum-led NWC is carrying out Wike’s agenda and disputed charges that they were financially motivated to suspend those persons.
Abdullahi presented a statement signed by Anyanwu, explaining that Ajibade and Ologunba were suspended for alleged abuse of position, insubordination, and refusal to implement NWC directives.
In response to the suspensions by both factions, the PDP Board of Trustees requested the factional members of the National Working Committee to return to the former state of affairs.
Wabara stated that the Board of Trustees is entirely committed to promoting peace, unity, and progress within the PDP.
