TheGavel – The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated significantly, as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) splintered into two opposing factions. Both groups have taken drastic actions, suspending key party officials, further deepening the leadership rift that has gripped the PDP.
On Friday, October 11, 2024, the first faction, represented by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, issued a statement announcing the suspension of the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu. Both officials were accused of engaging in anti-party activities. According to Ologunagba, the decision to suspend the duo was made after careful consideration of various complaints against them. He revealed that the complaints were particularly focused on their involvement in the ongoing legal case involving former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“This is 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),” Ologunagba said in the statement.
The statement further outlined that the NWC condemned these actions as violations of the PDP Constitution and their respective oaths of office. As a result, the acting National Chairman and National Secretary were suspended from all NWC-related meetings and activities pending an investigation by the party’s National Disciplinary Committee. The NWC invoked Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution to justify its decision and announced that both Damagum and Anyanwu had been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
However, the crisis took a new turn later the same day when another faction of the NWC, loyal to Damagum, retaliated by announcing the suspension of Ologunagba and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade. This second faction, in a statement issued by the PDP National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, also alleged that Ologunagba and Ajibade had engaged in disloyalty to the party.
Nnorom disclosed that the party had set up a committee, chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the allegations against the suspended officials. He also noted that, in the meantime, the suspended officials’ deputies would assume their duties in acting capacities.
“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,” Nnorom said. “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, 2024, pending the conclusion of investigation by the committee,” he added.
The newly appointed acting officials are Ibrahim Manga, who will serve as acting National Publicity Secretary, and Okechukwu Osuoha, who will serve as acting National Legal Adviser.
The two factions’ actions reflect the deepening division within the party, with each side accusing the other of undermining party unity and loyalty. The suspension of these key officials has raised concerns among the PDP’s leadership and rank-and-file members about the future direction of the party.
Nnorom’s statement concluded with a call for calm, urging party members to stay focused on the PDP’s long-term goals. “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,” he said.
This development marks another chapter in the long-running internal struggle within the PDP, as the party grapples with leadership and loyalty issues. With investigations now underway, party members and political observers alike will be closely monitoring the outcome of the internal inquiries and the potential impact on the PDP’s future ahead of the next electoral cycle.(NAN)
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