Chaos erupts as nine PDP governors allegedly back Damagum’s suspension

NEW TELEGRAPH

The political crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is taking a different dimension with nine of the party’s 13 elected governors, reportedly endorsing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

A faction of the party in a statement issued by Debo Ologunagba reportedly suspended the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

This was believed to be a counter-reaction by the group following Ologunagba’s suspension together with the National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade but the party National Working Committee (NWC) at its 593 meeting on Thursday, October October 10.

“The National Working Committee at its 593rd meeting of Thursday, October 10, 2024, discussed the allegation of abuse of office, insubordination and refusal to adhere to the directives of the NWC, against the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN and the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba and approved that the two National Officers should be suspended from all NWC activities while the committee constituted to look into the allegation carry-on with a thorough investigation,” the party said in the statement.
Director of Publicity Chinwe Nnorum.

But Ologunagba in a counter statement, announced the suspension of Damagum and the National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, for anti-party activity.

He said the duo were suspended 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).

“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.

“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee,” he added.

But an online news report said nine of the PDP governors “collectively endorsed the suspension of Iliya Damagum from his role as Acting National Chairman.”

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