Governors affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are convening an emergency meeting today, Monday, October 14, 2024, in response to the recent wave of suspensions affecting key officials within the party.
Recently, a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC), which supports the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, had previously announced the suspension of the national legal adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and the national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, citing allegations of disloyalty.
In a subsequent development, another faction of the NWC declared the suspension of Damagum himself, along with the party’s national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, for purported anti-party activities.
Damagum has been serving as the acting national chairman since last year following the suspension and eventual removal of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu from the position. The party has faced ongoing internal conflicts since its loss of federal power in 2015.
Reliable sources have informed our correspondent that the gathering of PDP governors today aims to establish strategies to resolve the ongoing crisis within the party, particularly concerning the suspensions of its senior leaders.
Additionally, it has been reported that the governors will deliberate on the selection of a successor to Ayu as the party’s permanent national chairman while also addressing the demands from influential figures in the North Central region to maintain the position for the remainder of Ayu’s term.
Furthermore, it has come to light that prominent members of the PDP from the North Central, including former Benue State Governor Senator Gabriel Suswam and former Senate President David Mark, are positioning themselves as potential candidates to assume the role in a substantive capacity.
High-level sources have also indicated that the governors will discuss matters related to the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the existing divisions within the NWC.
Insiders have suggested that certain stakeholders are advocating for the establishment of a caretaker committee for the party as a means to resolve the protracted crisis.
In the meantime, even in light of the court ruling prohibiting the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from ousting Damagum, stakeholders from the North Central region remain optimistic about fulfilling Ayu’s term.
A member of the NEC confided to our correspondent that the chairpersons from Yobe and Borno states, who initiated legal action against Damagum in pursuit of his removal, are being encouraged to withdraw their suit.
He said, “The PDP governors, through Bala Muhammed, have told Damagum to prepare for the NEC on 24th. Damagum cannot continue; the governors are working to make sure the party does not disintegrate.
“Another scenario is either Damagum goes with all the NWC members for a caretaker committee to be put in place or be reverted to his position as deputy national chairman (North).”
Meanwhile, Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, who was appointed to lead the faction opposed to Damagum, yesterday announced that he had taken over the leadership of the party.
Yayari, in a statement, said the NEC meeting must be held on October 24, 2024, stressing that he would make the PDP a vibrant opposition party.
