A faction of the national working committee (NWC) of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Umar Damagum, the acting national
chairman.
In a statement issued early Friday morning, Debo Ologunagba,
the PDP spokesperson, said the NWC also suspended Samuel Anyanwu, the national
secretary.
He said both politicians were suspended over alleged
anti-party activities in Rivers state.
“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 statement reads.
“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.”
He said Damagum and Anyanwu are “suspended from all
meetings, activities and programmes” of the NWC pending the conclusion of an
investigation by the national disciplinary committee.
ANOTHER FACTION ASKS
OLOGUNAGBA TO STEP ASIDE
Another faction in the NWC has asked Ologunagba and
Kamaldeen Ajibade, the national legal adviser, to step aside.
In a statement, Chinwe Nnorom, PDP national director of
publicity, said both party officials were suspended at the NWC meeting held on
Thursday.
Nnorom said a committee headed by Taofeek Arapaja, deputy
national chairman (south), has been set up 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, Esq, Acting National Publicity
Secretary and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser,” the
statement reads.
“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.”
The development comes amid the crisis rocking the main
opposition party.
The PDP NWC is divided, with one faction supporting Damagum,
while the other pushes for his resignation.
Ologunagba and Ajibade are among the NWC members demanding
Damagum’s resignation.
In August, the leadership of the PDP inaugurated a
disciplinary committee to address the misconduct and indiscipline in the party
and “ensure accountability, fairness, ethics and values”.
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