Fresh Crisis Engulfs PDP As NWC Faction Suspends Ag. Chairman- Damagum, Secretary

A major crack has torn the National leadership of the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart as a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC), on Friday morning announced the immediate suspension of the acting National Chairman, Ambassor Iliya Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, over alleged anti-party activities and gross disloyalty to the party.

This was just as another faction of the NWC believed to be loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike and led by Damagum also announced the suspension of the National Legal Adviser of the Party, Mr Kamaldeen Ajibade and the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, for alleged disloyalty to the party.

A statement by Hon Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP state that 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 the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in the 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).

Ologunagba further said that the NWC condemned the anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which were in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.

The statement further said; “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,” it stated.

Similarly, the Damagum-le faction of the PDP National Working Committee said it has directed the National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Mr Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside.

A statement by Chinwe I. Nnorom, National Director of Publicity of the PDP, said the decision was sequel to the resolution of the 593rd Meeting of the NWC which took place on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

Nnorom said that 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.

It further said that 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

The statement said the NWC enjoined all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of the Party to remain focused and committed as it pilots the day-to-day affairs of the PDP for its greater good.