The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated, as a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, accusing them of disloyalty.
Earlier, another faction within the NWC, supporting Damagum, had suspended National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, also on grounds of disloyalty.
In a dramatic twist, Ologunagba issued a statement on Friday announcing the suspension of both Damagum and Anyanwu.
The statement read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has carefully reviewed multiple complaints against Acting National Chairman Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, particularly concerning a letter they submitted to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/PH/307/2024, which contradicted the party’s position on the case of the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats after defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The NWC condemns this anti-party action by the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary, considering it a serious breach of the PDP Constitution (amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.
“As a result, the NWC, in accordance with Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu from their roles as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, and has referred the matter to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
“In the meantime, both officials are suspended from all NWC meetings, activities, and programs until the National Disciplinary Committee concludes its investigation.”