The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened following suspension and counter-suspension among its National Working Committee (NWC).
A faction led by the party’s National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, after its meeting, announced that its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, had been suspended.
The faction subsequently constituted a committee under the leadership of the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, to “investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.”
Chinwe Nnorom, a National Director of Publicity at the party headquarters, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday night, stating, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting has directed the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Hon Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside, respectively.
“Following the NWC’s Decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in acting capacity with effect from Friday, October 11, 2014, pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee.”
The new officers according to the faction are Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Esq, Acting National Publicity Secretary and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser.
However, in swift reaction, the other camp which also includes Ologunagba and Ajibade also suspended Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
In a statement issued in the early hours of Friday by Ologunagba, the faction said, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has extensively considered the series of complaints raised against the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No:CA/PH/307/2024 against the Party’s position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats upon decamping from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.
“Consequently, the NWC, pursuant to Sections 57, 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party respectively and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities and programmes of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”
The party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) had on Thursday called on all party members to endeavour to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee should they be summoned.