The ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated, with a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) announcing the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu. The suspension, reportedly over alleged disloyalty, comes in the wake of internal divisions that show no signs of resolution.
This development follows an earlier move by a faction aligned with Damagum, which suspended National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba on similar charges of disloyalty. In a dramatic turn, Ologunagba responded on Friday by issuing a statement announcing the suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu.
“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,” Ologunagba’s statement read. The core grievance centred around a letter sent by the two officials to the Court of Appeal, which allegedly undermined the party’s position in a legal case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The NWC condemned what it described as “anti-party activities” by Damagum and Anyanwu, accusing them of violating the PDP Constitution and their oath of office. The statement continued: “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.”
The two officials have been barred from participating in all NWC meetings and activities until the investigation by the disciplinary committee is concluded.
This latest twist in the PDP’s internal battle underscores the growing fractures within Nigeria’s main opposition party, with rival factions entrenched in a fierce struggle for control. As the leadership dispute intensifies, the party faces increasing uncertainty over its future direction, while members and stakeholders anxiously await the outcome of the ongoing disciplinary process.
