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The terrible conflict rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has led to the emergence of two national chairmen, following a split within the ranks of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The split within the party’s national leadership has been reportedly caused by the ongoing tussle for control of the party’s soul in Rivers State, escalated by the recent local government elections approved by the party’s national leadership.
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While one faction of the party is led by acting national chairman Ambassador Illiya Damagum, the other is led by the national treasurer of the party, Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed. This was preceded by the exchange of suspensions among some national executives, with Damagum’s camp suspending the national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, and the national legal adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, over alleged anti-party activities.
In turn, the Mohammed-led camp declared Damagum and the national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, suspended.
Worried by the escalating situation, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) called for calm and urged the warring factions to revert to the status quo. However, the PDP governors stated that there is no faction in the party, adding that a general meeting of all its stakeholders would be held soon to bridge the gaps within the party.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and BoT from removing Damagum as the party’s acting national chairman. Justice Peter Lifu, who issued the order, stated that no other person must be recognised as PDP acting national chairman other than Damagum until the party’s national convention, scheduled for December next year.
The court order comes ahead of the PDP NEC meeting scheduled for 24 October.
The drama in the party began less than 24 hours after the BoT met and called for a review of the recent state congresses. The BoT also insisted that the NEC meet as scheduled on 24 October to deliberate on the crisis rocking the party, including the Rivers State chapter and the recent congresses.
The PDP has been enmeshed in a pre-2023 presidential election crisis, compounded by the rift between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Rivers State Governor Fubara over control of Rivers PDP and the recent conduct of the congresses.
While Damagum and some party officials recently met with Governor Seyi Makinde, Ologunagba and Ajibade met with Governor Mohammed, chairman of the PDP Governors Forum. After the separate meetings, Makinde declared support for Damagum’s continued stay as acting chairman, but Mohammed insisted that the acting chairman must vacate the seat for the North Central zone as designated by the party.
PDP members from the North Central region have insisted that Damagum, who is from the North East region, should revert to his deputy chairmanship position to allow the North Central to occupy the position vacated by Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Although hints of a split in the NWC had emerged due to the unfolding crisis, it came to a head yesterday with the suspension of party officials for alleged anti-party activities regarding the battle in Rivers State.
