The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee will meet on October 24, but two party leaders are at odds over who should succeed acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
Since 2023, the PDP has been in internal upheaval, with some members blaming Damagum for failing to take significant reform steps.
PDP members, particularly those from North Central, requested Damagum’s successor, insisting that it come from their region.
They claimed that Section 47(6) of the party’s constitution stated that whenever a vacancy occurs in any party office, the Executive Committee must pick someone from the same area or zone as the departing officer to fulfil their term.
The 2023 PDP governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi, disagreed with former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, regarding the zone that should produce Damagum’s replacement.
While Ologbondiyan believes the successor should come from the North Central, Showunmi insists the seat was not formed specifically for the zone.
“What the North Central is agitating for is for Damagum to leave that post and return to his position as Deputy National Chairman. The zone will then nominate a suitable person to replace him and complete the tenure,” Ologbondiyan stated.
“We are demanding that North Central be given its rightful place in the National Working Committee, which is the position of National Chairman of the party,” he added.
Showunmi, however, stated, “What led to the removal of the last chairman?” Was it not the North Central issues at the heart of this problem? The party will lose if they continue this way.
“I am from the South, and I have the best ideas to get this party moving right now. We need to bring young people into this party. By even putting myself forward for this, I am taking a big risk with my money and time. So, it is not about the zone; it is about the PDP, and I am saying all this because we cannot have a one-party state.”
