The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated, with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) suspending Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu over allegations of anti-party activities.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting of the NWC, which concluded in the early hours of Friday. The suspension is tied to a controversial letter the two officers allegedly sent to the Court of Appeal regarding the party’s position in a case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who had defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued at 3:18 a.m., PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed the NWC’s decision, saying, “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, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal against the Party’s position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
The NWC condemned the actions of the suspended officials, citing a breach of the PDP Constitution and their oath of office.
“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,” the statement read.
The suspensions, which were made under Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution, are immediate and will last until the party’s National Disciplinary Committee concludes its investigation.
Ologunagba added, “The two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities, and programmes of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”
This development comes amid increasing tensions within the party.
The PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, has previously urged members to cooperate with the party’s disciplinary committee when summoned. At the BoT’s 78th meeting, Wabara called on the NWC to ensure that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meets as scheduled on October 24, 2024.
The PDP’s leadership turmoil continues to unfold, raising questions about the party’s unity ahead of future political challenges.