The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday to address the internal crisis that has been causing tensions among party leaders and members.
As the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party continues, Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, has urged Umar Damagum, the factional acting National Chairman of the party, to return to their previous arrangements.
A senior party member told OBASANJONEWS that the PDP Governors Forum has scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday to address several issues concerning the future of the party.
The source, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak publicly, also disclosed that PDP stakeholders were contemplating the formation of a caretaker committee to steer the party toward holding a National Convention for electing a new National Working Committee.
Remember that since Damagum became the acting National Chairman after Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s removal by the court, he has faced growing criticism from party leaders due to the ongoing crisis in the PDP. This situation has led to calls for his resignation.
Damagum’s indecisiveness has exacerbated the tense political situation in Rivers State between Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now Minister of Federal Capital Territory.
On Friday, in an unexpected development, Damagum’s faction of the NWC announced through Chinwe Nnorom, the party’s National Director of Publicity, that they have suspended Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary and Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), the National Legal Adviser due to accusations of insubordination and actions against party interests.
Soon after, a statement signed by Ologunagba announced that the NWC had suspended Damagum and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu due to alleged disloyalty to the PDP. In response, they appointed National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the acting National Chairman.
A source present at the meeting between the Bauchi Governor and Damagum’s faction of the NWC reported that the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum called for calm.
He mentioned that Governor Bala Mohammed is concerned about the situation. In his meeting with Damagum’s team on Friday, he welcomed them and urged calm. The governor encouraged restoring the status quo to maintain unity within the NWC and allow the NEC to tackle the issues at their next meeting.
To address these issues, I understand that the governors have scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday. There is also talk among some stakeholders about potentially appointing a new caretaker committee to oversee the party’s activities and plan an elective national convention in 2025 to welcome a new National Working Committee (NWC).
These stakeholders are of the opinion that reconciliation efforts will not result in the current NWC members working together for the party’s benefit. Despite this, they remain cautious due to ongoing litigation related to the Damagum and NWC situation. Consequently, the governors plan to meet and address all these concerns.
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Efforts to contact Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, and Ibrahim Abbdullahi, the acting National Publicity Secretary of Damagum’s NWC, for comments were unsuccessful. They did not respond to our correspondent’s calls or text messages.
In a related development, ahead of the PDP’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting on October 24th, party members are advocating for decisive measures to realign the organization.
Eddy Olafeso, who previously served as the National Vice Chairman for the South-West of the Peoples Democratic Party, highlighted that ensuring a prosperous future for the PDP is a collective responsibility.
He expressed that the future of the party is a shared responsibility, necessitating dedication from all members. He anticipates that the NEC will play a vital role in bringing everyone together and encouraging cooperation. By joining forces, they can build a stronger foundation for the PDP.
It is crucial for the NEC to keep developing a strong party that is ready to face future challenges. By working together, we can guarantee that the PDP continues to be an influential force in politics.
Timothy Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, expressed his hope that members of NEC will embrace a moment of truth in their forthcoming meeting.
In an interview with our correspondent, Osadolor expressed his optimism that the leadership and discipline issues confronting the PDP will be resolved by October 24th.
Osadolor expressed his expectations, saying he hopes for a more unified approach from the NEC on various issues. He also anticipates that some difficult truths will be addressed in the meeting and believes that party leaders will work to ensure the PDP emerges stronger and improved after resolving all internal concerns.
I am confident that this NEC will address the challenges of leadership and discipline. With a report from the committee assigned to these tasks, the NEC will be empowered to take decisive actions.
