Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are taking decisive steps to address the ongoing crisis within the party leadership.
The initiative comes in the wake of the recent suspension by a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Acting National Chairman, Mr. Umaru Damagum, and the National Secretary, Mr. Samuel Anyanwu, for alleged breach of trust. be.
The turmoil escalated when Damagum’s supporters announced the suspension of National Legal Adviser Kamaludeen Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba over similar charges.
The mutual suspensions have heightened tensions within the party, and calls have been made for the governor and others to urgently resolve the issue.
According to sources close to the governor who spoke to ThisDay, several options are being considered to restore order and unity within the PDP.
One of the proposals involves removing all members of the NWC through the National Executive Committee (NEC) and appointing an interim committee to run the party until 2025.
Another potential solution being discussed is to bring both factions back to the status quo and allow Damagum’s successor to be elected at the next NEC meeting scheduled for October 24, 2024. .
An official said, “Ayu’s successor was supposed to be proposed at the NEC meeting on April 18, 2024, but the decision was put on hold because many states have not yet adjourned their legislative sessions.” When the NEC meeting was rescheduled, it was postponed because it coincided with the small Hajj period. Now that all states are out of parliament, a new NEC meeting was scheduled for October 24 to elect Mr Ayu’s successor, whose term expires in December 2025, along with other members of the NWC. ”
The official said it was unclear whether Damagumu would use the court to block peace efforts following a court order blocking PDP from removing Damagumu until December 2025.
“When Damagumu’s suspension was announced and a court order was issued prohibiting the PDP from removing him, Damagumu was in Bauchi State to brief the PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed, on the outcome of the NWC meeting. We don’t know if he initiated it. He is not expected to use a court order to end the peace effort,” the source added.
The source further disclosed that one of the outcomes of Mr Damagumu’s visit to Bauchi was that the parties to the conflict should maintain the status quo pending the PDP governors’ meeting tomorrow.
He said Damagum and his NWC were also told that such a crisis was unnecessary as the party was preparing for the NEC meeting.
However, the crisis deepened yesterday when the party’s top national executive reportedly invaded the offices of National Legal Adviser Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Ologunagba and ordered them to change the locks.
However, this order was not yet implemented as other executives were displeased with it.
One of the national officers said, “Until now, the key to the office of former national chairman Iyorukia Ayu is still intact, so why should we change the office keys of the affected officers?” questioned.
A senior party official said: “The two have been suspended under suspicious circumstances. Why rush into their offices as if they have been expelled from the party?”
