The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing an internal crisis as a faction within its National Working Committee (NWC) has suspended both National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.
News About Nigeria reports that this development follows a series of disciplinary actions against other high-ranking members.
The tension escalated after the suspension of National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, who had urged party leaders to adhere strictly to the PDP constitution.
The decision to suspend Ologunagba and Ajibade was announced by the PDP’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, during the NWC’s 593rd meeting.
Both members have been instructed to step aside pending further investigation into the allegations against them.
In a counterstatement, Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu, citing concerns regarding their actions, particularly a contentious letter they sent to the Court of Appeal.
This letter opposed the party’s position in a case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement from the NWC condemned the actions of Damagum and Anyanwu as anti-party, violating the PDP Constitution and their Oath of Office.
To address the situation, the NWC has appointed a committee led by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja to investigate the allegations against the suspended leaders.
Meanwhile, Damagum and Anyanwu have been barred from attending all NWC meetings and activities until the committee concludes its findings.
The statement reads in part, “The NWC has thoroughly reviewed the complaints against Acting National Chairman Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, especially regarding their letter to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/PH/307/2024, which opposed the party’s stance in the case of 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats after defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The NWC condemns this anti-party behaviour by the Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, as it violates the PDP Constitution (amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.”
