Tag: Damagun

The Umar Damagun-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is prepared to defy Tuesday’s ruling of Justice Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, directing that the plan should not hold.

The National Convention Organising Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Wednesday that the elective National Convention scheduled for this weekend in Ibadan will go ahead as a planned convention.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, who doubles as Secretary to the Publicity Committee for the convention, Debo Ologunagba, said information circulating about the cancellation of the convention was false.

The statement reads, “The National Working Committee (NWC) and the 2025 National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) informs all party members and the general public that the 2025 National Convention of the PDP has not been postponed, but will go on as scheduled on Saturday, 15th to Sunday, 16th November, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

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“The NWC and the NCOC urge Party members and Nigerians in general to disregard misleading claims being peddled to the contrary by some individuals who, it has been revealed, are recruited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its failed attempt to stop the PDP National Convention.

“We are aware of the plots by the APC to destabilise the opposition and impose a one-party state in the country; a design that will be lawfully resisted.

“The NCOC and the Party will continue to work assiduously round the clock to ensure a successful National Convention in Ibadan as scheduled.

“While thanking Nigerians for their overwhelming support for our Party, the NCOC welcomes all delegates, Party leaders, officials and all supporters of the PDP who have already started arriving in Ibadan for the National Convention.”

The Amb. Umar Damagun-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the suspension of the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu

This was after the National Ex-Officios of the PDP backed the Damagun-led NWC while condemning what they called invasion of the party secretariat by those it called desperados. 

The November I letter but received at the INEC headquarters on November 4, was signed by the Amb. Umar Damagun, (National Chairman); Amb. Taofeek Arapaja (Deputy National Chairman -South); Hon. Arch. Setonji Koshoedo (Deputy National Secretary); Hon. Yayari Ahmed (National Treasurer) and Dr. Woyengikuro Ambrose Daniel (National Financial Secretary) is titled “Resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) at its 608th Emergency Meeting Held Today, Saturday, 1st November, 2025.”

It reads: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 608th emergency meeting today, Saturday, 1st November, 2025, considered the continued anti-party activities of some National Officers despite the formal reprimand issued by the Party. 

“The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 57(3), 58 (1)(a)(b)(c) and (h)and 59(1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (As Amended in 2017) suspends the following National Officers from the Party-

Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Hon. Umar Bature (National Organizing Secretary), Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (National Legal Adviser) and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha (Deputy National Legal Adviser). 

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‘The above-name National Officers are consequently suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action. During the period of the suspension, the affected officers cease to function in their respective capacities.

‘Pursuant to Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo shall forthwith act as the National Secretary while the National Director of Legal Services and National Director of Organization are hereby directed to oversees the activities of their respective Directorate.”

However a statement on Tuesday by Chairman and Secretary of PDP National Ex-Officio Forum Clement O. Faboyede and Mrs. Hassan Comfort respectively, described the incident as a reckless display of political lawlessness and an affront to democratic decency.

The Forum decried the actions of those it said are anti-party lords as a direct assault on the soul of the PDP, a brazen violation of the party’s constitution, and an open declaration of war against internal democracy. 

They said  “What transpired at Wadata Plaza was not just an attack on individuals, but an attempt to desecrate the sanctity of an institution built on decades of sacrifice, vision, and democratic commitment. Those behind this inglorious plot have only succeeded in exposing their disdain for order and their contempt for the collective will of millions of PDP faithful nationwide.”

They commended Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court ruling affirming the legality of the forthcoming PDP National Convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State describing the judgment as a triumph of justice over impunity, and a resounding victory for democracy, due process, and institutional integrity.”

The Forum called on all genuine party members, organs and stakeholders to remain calm, focused and unwavering in their commitment to the ideals of the PDP, assuring that truth, justice, and the rule of law will ultimately prevail over impunity and disorder.

However, a group of Youth Leaders of the PDP under the auspices of PDP Youth Forum backed the Samuel Anyanwu-led faction, saying they were prepared to work with the Acting Chairman of the faction  to reposition the party. 

Chairman of the forum and Gombe state Youth Leader said leaders of the party should close rank, sit down and resolve all matters threatening the party and congratulated the new party National Chairman Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed. 

Top stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the North-Central Zone have declared their firm resolve to ensure the zone produces a replacement for the party’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum, early in 2025.

In a communiqué issued after a high-profile meeting, which included two former Senate Presidents, two ex-presidential aspirants, former senators, a serving member of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), ex-ministers, four former governors, and the zone’s only serving governor, the stakeholders made their intentions clear. 

They revealed that strategic efforts are underway to persuade party leaders across the north to support the ousting of Damagum in favoir of a candidate from the North-Central Zone.

Among those present were David Ombugadu, a former House of Representatives member from Nasarawa State and previously proposed consensus candidate for the zone’s National Chairmanship. 

Also, in attendance was Senator Gabriel Suswam, a staunch Atiku loyalist who once expressed interest in the PDP National Chairmanship position.

The communiqué, issued after their meeting in an undisclosed location in Abuja, outlined three key resolutions:

“The stakeholders (Elders) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reviewed the state of the Party with particular reference to the vacant position of National Chairman of the Party following the exit of Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

“The PDP constitution clearly stated that for succession of offices in the party at all levels which is largely to the extent that any vacant position can be replaced by appointment from the zone as per section 47 (6) of the party.

“The party is guided by its own constitution at all times, therefore, the leadership of the party needs to rise up to the occasion to restore goodwill and cohesion in the party by making necessary sacrifices and compromises to restore confidence and cohesion in the party. 

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“It is in the light of this that the stakeholders of the North Central Zone appealed to the conscience and goodwill of our compatriots in other zones of the Northern region to restore the seat of the Chairmanship of the party back to the North Central Zone to serve out its tenure.

“That the stakeholders must strive to build consensus to get the buy-in to the position of north central zone.

“North central is united and will strive to preserve the PDP as a veritable platform for good governance in Nigeria,” they stated.

The list of PDP North Central zone stakeholders at the meeting includes Plateau state governor, Caleb Muftwang; two ex-Senate Presidents, Senator David Mark and Senator Bukola Saraki; serving National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); former Minister of the Interior, Senator Abba Moro; ex-governors Jonah Jang, Babangida Aliyu, Abdulfatai Ahmed and Idris Wada.

Others include Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Simon Mwadkwon, Mrs Margaret Ichen, Mr. Raymond Dabo, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, Senator Suleiman Adokwe, Labaran Maku, Senator Zainabe Kure, Prof. Jerry Gana, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Philip Aduda, Maika Jiba, Isa Dobi, Senator Mohammed Onao and Senator Peter Jiya.

The coalition of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, known as G60, has accused the acting national chairman, Umar Damagun, and the National Working Committee of secretly filing court processes to reinstate the 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected to the APC.

The lawmakers claimed that the suit aims to reinstate these members, whose seats were declared vacant, and to revive a plan to illegally impeach Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking at a news conference, the group’s spokesman, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), displayed copies of the suit allegedly filed by the party.

He described the party’s actions as a shameful betrayal and evidence of a compromised NWC that must be dissolved immediately.

In suit no: FHC/PH/CS/90/2024 dated 14th May 2024, the party is seeking an order joining the PDP as 30 defendants in the suit, and an order for the amendment of all processes in the suit to reflect the name of the People’s Democratic Party as the defendant in the suit, and for any other orders as the honourable court may seem fit to make in the circumstances.”

In the affidavit in support of the motion, the PDP said it has not received any notice of resignation from the wards of the 1st -27th defendants yet and consequently cannot say that they have defected.

Paragraph 10 states of the affidavit in support said: “In further response to paragraph 20(1) of the affidavit in support of the originating summons, the 30th defendant is not aware that the 1st – 27th defendants renounced their membership of the People’s Democratic Party or defected to the APC aside the rumours being peddled on social media.”

Ugochinyere who said the National Legal Adviser of the party earlier denied the existence of the suit by the party said Damagun is set to destroy the party and allow APC sacked lawmakers to come back and impeach the governor.

He said: “Recall that the PDP through the legal adviser deliberately misled the public and party members when he denied the allegations of the existence of such a legal process where PDP Headquarters gave authorisation for the sacked APC Lawmakers to be reinstated using one Dr.Musa Joshua SAN.

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“Fellow Party men, the party headquarters lied and here today, we have the hard evidence and copy of the documents to show what those we left in Wadata house are capable of doing to their own party which is the reason we insisted we can’t leave those already in bed with APC as our party’s Officials.

“We can confirm to you that the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has filed a Motion for joinder in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/90/2024 filed by the remaining members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to declare the seats of the 27 defected members of the Assembly vacant.

“We can also confirm that the PDP led by Umar Damagun and his legal adviser Ajibade using a personal lawyer of FCT Minister Wike also filed a Counter Affidavit to the said suit and a written address opposing the prayers to declare the seats vacant and insisting that the sacked APC lawmakers are still PDP members and should be left alone to continue the activities against the PDP led govt in Rivers State.

“The position of the PDP was that it was the only party that could say who its members are and that the 27 members are still members of the Party.

“We can also confirm to you that the processes were filed by Dr. Joshua Musa, SAN who is a well-known lawyer of the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike and his interests.

“The legal adviser with permission of the PDP Chairman deliberately assigned and authorised the FCT Minister lawyer to take the case knowing fully well that PDP Interest will be butchered. So we can say for a fact that Wike’s lawyer is representing the PDP and is pushing Wike’s interest which is clearly against that of the PDP as these defected lawmakers are seeking ways to illegally impeach the PDP Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Again whether money exchanged hands to allow this type of absurd situation cannot be confirmed but that information by Mallam Abubakar Isa who alleged that there was financial inducement pushed us into the field to ascertain the true position and these are our findings.

We are aware that the Federal High Court in Abuja counter-claimed and asked the Court to declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant for the sole reason of their defection is still the same party that is now purporting to stop another court from doing the same thing they are asking another court to do.

“The PDP is now approbating and reprobating at the same time. So what happened? When was this new alliance forged? When did the PDP start defending the defected lawmakers? What are the terms of that negotiation? Are the terms in the interest of PDP or APC, the new party of the now former Assembly members?