The ongoing crisis within the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has escalated as factions led by the acting National Chairman, Illiya Damagum, and another faction within the National Working Committee (NWC) engage in a show of power through mutual suspensions.
In a recent move, the Damagum faction suspended two key party officials: the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN. This decision was announced by Chinwe Nnorom, the National Director of Publicity at the party’s headquarters, following the 593rd NWC meeting.
Nnorom stated that both Ologunagba and Ajibade are to step aside immediately, effective from Friday, October 11, 2014, while a committee chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, investigates the issues surrounding their suspension in line with the party’s constitutional provisions.
In light of this suspension, the deputies of the suspended officials, Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, have been appointed as the Acting National Publicity Secretary and Acting National Legal Adviser, respectively.
In a swift response, the opposing faction of the NWC countered by suspending Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Ologunagba issued a statement on behalf of this faction, outlining that the NWC had reviewed multiple complaints against Damagum and Anyanwu.
These complaints primarily focused on their involvement in a letter submitted to the Court of Appeal regarding a case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The NWC condemned their actions as anti-party activities, asserting that they violated both the party’s constitution and their oaths of office.
As a result, the NWC has officially suspended Damagum and Anyanwu from their respective positions and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further review. Until the investigation concludes, both officials are barred from participating in any meetings, activities, or programs of the NWC.
This turmoil within the party occurs against the backdrop of comments from Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, who emphasized the necessity for party unity and collaboration to move forward effectively.
