Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have reached a decision to remove Iliya Umar Damagum from his position as Acting National Chairman.
Naija News reports that this decision was revealed by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Governor Mohammed made the announcement on Tuesday night after meeting with the NWC.
Damagum, a loyalist of Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), assumed the role of Acting Chairman following the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.
Addressing the ongoing leadership crisis within the party, Governor Mohammed stated that Damagum’s continued stay as Acting Chairman is a “constitutional aberration” and that the party is taking steps to rectify the situation.
He emphasized that, according to the PDP’s constitution, any vacant leadership position must be filled by someone from the region where the previous holder hailed. In this case, the North Central, where former chairman Ayu came from, is entitled to fill the position.
He added that the North Central zone has been keen on reclaiming the chairmanship, and the party has agreed to facilitate this transition. The move would allow the region to complete Ayu’s unfinished tenure.
Governor Mohammed also pointed out that this arrangement is not without precedent, as the North East benefited from a similar scenario when former Governor Ahmadu Muazu became the PDP National Chairman following the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
He said, “My brother from the North East is acting as the National Chairman and it is a constitutional aberration because according to our Constitution, any vacancy that exists of leadership position should return where it is created
“We know the North Central has been craving for it and we have discussed the issue and would work with that as the chairman, the National Working Committee and the Party to ensure that the North Central is given the opportunity to assume that responsibility.
“The North East also benefited from such constitutional arrangements after the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Former Governor Ahmadu Muazu became the National Chairman of the PDP. It is not something that is in contention by the grace of God.”