PDP Crisis Deepens As  Anyanwu’s Group Suspends Damagum, Appoints Acting Chairman

By Adesina Soyooye

The Peoples Democratic Party is on its final stretch to Golgotha.

The crisis which has left the Party ineffective since 2023, worsened on Saturday with suspension and counter-suspension.

24 hours after a Federal High Court dumped its scheduled November National  Convention into the dustbin, the Party suspended, for one month, four of its National Working Committee officers, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the National Legal Adviser.

Those suspended are members of the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

But in a counter move, the Wike group announced the suspension of the National Chairman, Ambassador Ilya Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.

At a press conference in Abuja, Saturday,  on behalf of the factional NWC, Senator Anyanwu, announced that the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, has been appointed the Acting National Chairman. According to Anyanwu, he replaces Ambassador Damagum who he accused of incompetence, disobedience to Court orders and financial misconduct.

Anyanwu: “Unfortunately, some people may say that the National Secretary, National Organising Secretary who has the responsibility of monitoring everything and the National Legal Adviser, who is responsible for all legal issues, were purportedly suspended.

“On this note, we decided to suspend the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Ilya Damagum, for incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for Court judgment.

“He has been suspended for one month and should face the Disciplinary Committee.

“Secondly, we also suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for issuing statements without the party’s approval, and the Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has also been suspended.

“The National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro, who has been involved in alleged financial misconduct, has also been suspended.

“The National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, and the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended for 30 days.

“All of them will be sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled.

“Therefore, we are announcing the National Vice Chairman (North Central) to serve as the Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman.”