PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum Suspended Amid Party Crisis

“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which is in gross violation of the..."

PDP Leadership Shake-Up: National Chairman Umar Damagum, Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade Suspended by NWC Amid Allegations

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, due to alleged disloyalty to the party. This development follows a series of suspensions within the party, including those of National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade.

Reasons Behind the Suspension:

Anti-Party Activity: Damagum and Anyanwu were accused of engaging in anti-party activities, particularly concerning a letter they addressed to the Court of Appeal in the case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Disloyalty: The duo's actions were deemed disloyal to the party, prompting the National Working Committee (NWC) to take disciplinary action

Implications of the Suspension:

Leadership Uncertainty: The suspension adds to the growing rift within the party, leaving its leadership structure in uncertainty.

Internal Conflicts: The PDP continues to grapple with internal conflicts, which may impact its performance in future elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently dealing with a major internal crisis. A faction of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) has suspended National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, citing alleged disloyalty to the party. This development comes after Damagum's faction suspended National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade for alleged insubordination.

The suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu was announced by National Director of Publicity Chinwe Nnorom on October 11, following the NWC's 593rd meeting on October 10. During this meeting, the NWC ordered Ologunagba and Ajibade to step aside pending an investigation into allegations against them. To address the situation, the NWC has set up a committee chaired by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja to investigate the accusations against the suspended officials.

Key Points:

PDP's Factional War Intensifies: leadership suspended, investigation committee formed.

Suspended Officials:

National Chairman Umar Damagum
National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu
National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba
National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade

Investigation Committee:

Chaired by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja
Tasked with investigating allegations against suspended officials

Additional Reasons for Suspension:

Alleged disloyalty to the party (Damagum and Anyanwu)
Alleged insubordination (Ologunagba and Ajibade)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has just suspended two more top officials - National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade. This announcement was made by Chinwe Nnorom, the party's National Director of Publicity, earlier today, October 11.

The suspension is a result of allegations of insubordination against Ologunagba and Ajibade, and they've been asked to step aside while an investigation is conducted. To ensure a fair probe, the NWC has set up a committee led by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja to investigate these accusations.

Suspended Officials:

National Publicity Secretary: Debo Ologunagba
National Legal Adviser: Kamaldeen Ajibade

Investigation Committee:

Chairman: Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja
Purpose: To investigate allegations against suspended officials

This development comes after the suspension of National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu for alleged disloyalty to the party. The PDP is clearly taking steps to address internal conflicts and ensure accountability among its leaders.

The statement read in part, “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 particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No:CA/PH/307/2024 against the party's position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats upon decamping from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.

“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.”

PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum Suspended Amid Party Crisis