A faction supported by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has declared the suspension of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and five other National Working Committee members, plunging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into a deeper crisis.
According to reports, the incident comes after the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Damagum, suspended Samuel Anyanwu, the PDP’s national legal adviser, and two other members.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Saturday, PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu proclaimed Mohammed Abdulrahman, the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), as the Acting National Chairman on behalf of the factional NWC.
“Unfortunately, some people may claim that the National Secretary, National Organizing Secretary, who is in charge of keeping an eye on everything, and the National Legal Adviser, who is in charge of all legal matters, were purportedly suspended,” he said.
In light of this, we have chosen to suspend Ambassador Ilya Damagum, the party’s national chairman, for financial malfeasance, incompetence, and disrespect for court rulings. He should go before the Disciplinary Committee after receiving a one-month suspension.
Second, we suspended Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary, and Taofeek Arapaja, the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), for making statements without the party’s consent.
Daniel Woyenguikoro, the National Financial Secretary, has also been suspended due to potential financial malfeasance.
Additionally, Setonji Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary, and Sulaiman Kadade, the National Youth Leader, have been suspended for thirty days. They will all be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to provide justification for their refusal to be expelled.
“Therefore, we are announcing Mohammed Abdulrahman, the National Vice Chairman (North Central), to serve as the Acting National Chairman.”
