Amid ongoing crisis, PDP National Chairman Damagum is set to remain in office as the NWC and state chairmen hold crucial talks.
In preparation for the Peoples Democratic Party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for November 28, it appears that Umar Damagum has finalized plans to continue serving as the acting National Chairman of the party into next year.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Damagum-led National Working Committee is set to meet with the 36 state chairmen of the PDP and the FCT chairman at Wadata Plaza in Abuja on Wednesday (today).
A high-ranking member of the PDP leadership, requesting anonymity due to lack of authorization to comment publicly, informed our correspondent that the majority of chairpersons arrived in Abuja on Tuesday. This indicates that their gathering might be connected to the forthcoming NEC meeting.
Since taking on the role of acting national chairman after Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s court-ordered removal, Damagum has been increasingly criticized by party leaders amid the continuing PDP crisis, with growing demands for his resignation.
His supposed indecisiveness was held responsible for the escalating political crisis in Rivers State between Governor Siminalaye Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
At the 98th NEC meeting on April 18, the party leaders decided to determine Damagum’s future at their next gathering, the 99th NEC meeting.
The 99th NEC meeting, initially scheduled for August 15, was postponed to October 24 and subsequently rescheduled for November 28, 2024.
According to the source, recent developments within the party and actions taken by key stakeholders suggest that Damagum will remain in his position for the foreseeable future.
He mentioned that the NEC meeting will go ahead as scheduled, with Damagum remaining in his role as the party’s acting national chairman for now. The reason behind this decision is that many members and key stakeholders are less interested in appointing someone to lead for a brief period of fewer than 10 months when they could have a permanent chairman serving a full four-year term instead.
The delay in securing a replacement has caused many to lose interest in the issue. With an elective PDP convention planned between October and November 2025, party leaders have turned their attention toward managing Damagum, despite his limitations, until the next convention. This gathering will elect a new NWC for a four-year term and choose party candidates for the 2027 elections.
Beyond these reasons, ongoing legal disputes also surround the issue. Although it may be possible to navigate them, some party leaders prefer to avoid actions that might result in additional litigation.
In addition, the Wike group supporting Damagum has extended its influence into the North-Central zone. Consequently, under the leadership of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, this area has yet to meet and suggest a successor for Damagum. As a result, he will continue in his acting role for now.
According to the trusted source, the acting national chairman is actively interacting with stakeholders.
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He added, “As part of these engagements, a meeting is planned for Wednesday (today) during which Damagum and members of the NWC will meet with the 36 state chairmen as well as the FCT.”
The meeting agenda indicates that it is mainly an introductory session between the NWC and the newly elected state chairmen.
Nevertheless, it is probable that further discussions will occur in which Damagum’s supporters will aim to gain the backing and commitment of most, if not all, state chairmen prior to the NEC meeting.
They will rally their support and ready them for unforeseen developments. Given that not all NEC members possess voting rights, it wouldn’t be unexpected if a vote of confidence is granted to Damagum on November 28, permitting him to continue in his interim role.
A senior member of the PDP National Working Committee, choosing to remain anonymous due to not being authorized to discuss the matter with the media, confirmed that a notice for the 99th NEC meeting might be distributed this week.
The source also emphasized that Damagum might remain in his interim position, as he hails from the same northern region as Ayu.
The NEC is set to go ahead as planned, and the notice is anticipated to be issued this week.
Certain party members are needlessly raising concerns about Damagum. He didn’t assume the role on his own; it was granted to him by the constitution.
The party chieftain highlighted that according to the PDP Constitution, any replacement for an NWC member who dies, is removed or resigns must be from the same region. Since Ayu and Damagum are both from the North, their replacements would also need to come from this region.
Efforts to contact Damagum and the PDP National Vice Chairman, Theophilus Shan, for comments were unsuccessful as they did not answer phone calls or respond to messages.
In the same vein, neither Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, nor his deputy Ibrahim Abbdullahi and Gyang Bere, Director of Press and Public Affairs for Plateau State Governor, responded to calls. As this report was being finalized, they had not yet replied to messages sent regarding the issue.
Some members of the NEC, such as former National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan and Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor, have expressed different views regarding Damagum and his purported role in the party’s defeats in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
Ologbondiyan thinks the PDP will continue to face losses as long as Damagum remains the acting national chairman.
Osadolor argued that only a miracle could unseat him, asserting that the setbacks in Edo and Ondo were beyond Damagum’s control.
The previous National Publicity Secretary of the PDP claimed that Damagum has been ineffective in managing the party’s affairs.
Ologbondiyan observed, “Damagum’s failure to effectively manage the internal politics of the PDP has resulted in multiple losses for the party. Keeping him in office will only lead to further setbacks. I stand by this statement without apology.”
In the recent elections in Edo and Ondo, how well did the party prepare under Damagum’s leadership? How ready was the party for these elections?
Osadolor clarified that because of the ongoing litigation, the NEC meeting would not address replacing Damagum.
He went on to clarify that the results of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo were outside Damagum’s influence.
The deputy national youth leader stated, “Those party members who are holding Damagum responsible for all the issues within the party are merely trying to unfairly tarnish their reputation.”
The situation within the PDP is not Damagum’s responsibility; certain leaders are contributing to it.
“Concerning his tenure or potential removal, we all know there’s a court injunction preventing the NEC from replacing Damagum, which remains in effect. Therefore, it would take nothing short of a miracle to unseat him. I think it’s time for party leaders to become accustomed to Damagum’s leadership.”
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Regarding the party’s recent poll losses, he stated: “Concerning Edo and Ondo, the situation during their governorship elections was beyond what anyone criticizing Damagum could have managed. The APC-led Federal Government exerted significant influence in these states.”
“We understand they have other concerns with Damagum, but regarding the blame for the party’s losses in Edo and Ondo, none of them could have prevented it unless they became chairman.”
