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INSIDE STORY OF ONGOING CRISIS IN PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s leading opposition party, is arguably going through its most challenging moments ever.
It is currently enmeshed in very critical internal crisis which may determine whether it sinks or swims ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest crisis has exposed how polarized the leadership of the party has become in recent time and this development has also exposed how forces outside the party’s national secretariat are controlling the party.
The National Working Committee (NWC) suspected to be controlled by external forces on Friday showed it’s true colour when factions in the body clashed and issued retaliatory suspensions against each other.
While the faction aligned with the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, suspended the Acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, the faction aligned with the National Chairman, in a statement by the National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, suspended Ologunagba and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN.
Ologunagba statement read: “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.
“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.”
The statement by Chinwe Nnorom, suspending Ologunagba and Ajibade read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thurday, 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..
“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, Acting National Publicity Secretary and . Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser
“The NWC enjoins all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain focused and committed as it pilots the day-to-day affairs of the PDP for its greater good.”
Before the crisis escalated to the level of suspension, some political analysts had noted that the forces undermining the nation’s biggest opposition party are internal but fueled by external forces, this is even as some party members pointed out that the architect of PDP crisis are members with selfish interests.
BLAMING ATIKU’S DISAPPEARING ACT
A key member of the party blamed the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, for the crisis rocking the party.
The key member also exonerated the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whom many thought was the major problem of the party.
But Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere disagreed with this claim, noting that Wike has been the one seeking the downfall of the PDP.
The key member of the party, who spoke with our correspondent said if Atiku had taken his stand as a leading figure of the party before and after election, most of the issues in the party wouldn’t have come up ab initio.
He noted that Atiku and some governors on the platform of the party neglected the party to the extent that they did not even make financial contributions to its purse.
He also accused Atiku of always leaving the party after elections and resurfacing ahead of the next circle of elections.
