PDP NWC suspends National Chairman, Secretary for anti-party activities

PDP Leadership Crisis: Acting National Chairman and Key Officials Suspended Amid Allegations of Disloyalty

In a dramatic development, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is undergoing a significant leadership crisis as its National Working Committee (NWC) has suspended key figures within the party. The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, have been relieved of their duties due to allegations of disloyalty. This internal conflict, known as the PDP leadership crisis, has triggered a cascade of suspensions, affecting several top officials.

A faction within the PDP leadership, aligned with Damagum, has retaliated by suspending the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, citing similar accusations of disloyalty to the party. The ongoing PDP leadership crisis has deepened, showcasing the severity of the rift within the party’s hierarchy.

Ologunagba, one of the suspended officials, issued a statement on behalf of Damagum’s faction, confirming the decision to suspend Damagum and Anyanwu. He stated that the National Working Committee had extensively reviewed complaints, particularly concerning a letter they sent to the Court of Appeal in a case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their actions, deemed as anti-party activities, violated the provisions of the PDP Constitution, fueling the ongoing PDP leadership crisis.

The NWC emphasized that the actions of Damagum and Anyanwu directly contradicted their Oath of Office and breached the party’s internal regulations. Consequently, the committee, in accordance with Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended both officials pending further investigation. They have been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee, tasked with conducting a thorough review of their conduct during the PDP leadership crisis.

As the party continues to grapple with internal divisions, the suspensions signify a deepening rift within the PDP’s leadership structure. Both Damagum and Anyanwu have been excluded from all meetings, activities, and programs until the investigation is concluded, a critical move in addressing the PDP leadership crisis.

This latest round of suspensions underscores the growing tensions within the PDP and raises questions about the party’s future as it seeks to regain stability amidst the turmoil of the PDP leadership crisis.