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  • PDP Senate Caucus asks feuding parties to sheath sword

    PDP Senate Caucus asks feuding parties to sheath sword

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the Senate has called on warring factions within the party to sheath their sword.

    Briefing journalists after a meeting in the Senate, the leader of the Caucus, Senator Abba Moro (Benue South), said the caucus has decided to engage with all organs of the party to resolve all matters that affect sustainability, survival and existence of the party.

    Moro said: “After surveying recent happenings within the party, we have resolved as Senate Caucus of the PDP to set an extended Caucus of the party involving some former governors, leaders of the Senate Caucus and some leaders of the party to interface with the various organs of the party with a view to resolving all matters that affect sustainability, survival and existence of the party.

    Read Also: PDP crisis: Group cautions Imo lawmaker, calls for party unity

    “PDP Senate Caucus resolved to undertake every effort that is necessary to ensure the survival of the PDP.

    “Consequently, the Caucus resolved to advise all party members that have cases in the court to withdraw such cases to make room for a more robust political resolution of the crises in the party, especially the desire to return to constitutional order for the party”.

    He said the “PDP remains the only and one formidable opposition in this country. We must be ready as a party to provide an alternative platform to Nigerians for good governance.”

    On factionalisation in the party, Moro said: “In the strict sense of it, the party is not factionalised, there are only contending tendencies within the party. This is what we want to bring together because we cannot afford to be drifting apart in this trying moment for Nigerian nation.

    On personal ambition of members of the party which is affecting the fortunes of the party, Moro said in asking everybody to withdraw cases from the courts, it entails making sacrifices, adding that “personal ambitions can only be achieved when there is a PDP that can offer us the platform to realize personal ambitions.”

    He said he expects anyone that has ambition to run for office in the current situation should “sheath the sword and make way for a peaceful resolution in the part because if there is no party you cannot realise your ambition on the platform of the party”.

  • PDP crisis: Group cautions Imo lawmaker, calls for party unity

    PDP crisis: Group cautions Imo lawmaker, calls for party unity

    A group known as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Renaissance has urged the current member representing Idiato North in Imo State to exercise caution in his public statements regarding the ongoing crisis within the party.

    The group called on the lawmaker to allow other party bodies, such as the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the Governors’ Forum, to mediate, warning that the situation is becoming a “one-man show.”

    Speaking on the matter on behalf of the group, Douglas Peterson emphasized the importance of party unity, praising recent efforts by the PDP Governors’ Forum and the BoT to find peaceful solutions.

    He advised the legislator to focus on his legislative responsibilities, pointing out that his voice is needed in the National Assembly to address pressing national issues.

    Peterson noted that the lawmaker often holds press conferences and issues statements without consulting other party members, turning the issue into a personal campaign.

    He urged the House and Senate Minority Leaders, including Senator Abba Moro, to work closely with the BoT to promote unity and find a resolution to the crisis.

    He also warned that the division among the governors, many of whom have presidential ambitions, could further complicate the party’s internal problems.

    Read Also: PDP governors lift suspension of NWC members, say crisis over

    Peterson highlighted the importance of following court orders and seeking legal solutions to avoid a repeat of the Modu Sheriff and Makarfi factional disputes that once split the party.

    Additionally, Peterson criticised Ugo Chinyere’s involvement in the Rivers State crisis, describing him as an outsider whose actions have not helped the situation.

    He labeled Chinyere’s role as that of a “busybody,” questioning his intentions.

    He stressed the importance of resolving the political conflict in Rivers State to prevent the PDP from losing the state to the opposition.

    “I urge all stakeholders to exercise restraint in their statements, particularly as the Governor of Rivers State himself has been calling for peace”, he said.

  • PDP’s faltering front

    PDP’s faltering front

    SIR: The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) must be licking its lips at the incipient crisis festering within the opposition People’s Democratic Party(PDP). Since the PDP lost the 2015 general election, the party has generally struggled to contain the roiling discontent within its ranks, with only the greedy self-service of politicians and daydreams of power keeping the party together. But just as a running stomach inevitably sends one to the outhouse, it is only a matter of time before it all comes apart for the self-proclaimed largest party in Africa, one which once held Nigeria to ransom for 16 years, even prophesying a 60-year stay in power.

    Though one can never discount the machinations of the APC, the afflictions of the PDP appear to be home-cooked, baked in the oven that the Wadata Plaza has become since the crown slipped from its head eight years ago, taking with it the soul of the party.

    A few days ago, the party’s National Working Committee suspended its National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, from the party for alleged disloyalty to the party. This was shortly after another faction within the party purportedly suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and National Publicity Secretary,Debo Ologunagba.

    While the uninitiated may think 2027 is three years away, those who make their  trade in Nigeria’s political trenches would explain with intense urgency that 2027 is close, and breathing down the necks of political parties in Nigeria, especially the PDP.

    Since it was unceremoniously shunted into the arena of opposition politics, the PDP has struggled badly on all levels. Apart from failing to offer Nigerians serious alternatives since losing power in 2015, the party has been largely incoherent in espousing the ideals of a virile opposition party. This has come as no surprise though because once the unthinkable happened to it in 2015, it was predicted that a party that had so misused and abused power would struggle to know what to do with itself once removed from power.

    The PDP’s disastrous courtship of self-destruction has been hastened by the presence in the party of many political cowbirds who are content to lay their eggs in any available nest, leaving others to feed the dangers they leave behind.

    Read Also: Killings: Nigeria fast returning to barbarism, says ACF

    The most prominent of these political cowbirds would be Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor, and the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory. As the days when he ruled Rivers State with an iron fist hurtled to a close, he openly defied the PDP by working with and supporting President Bola Tinubu as he sought to become Nigeria’s president under the APC.

    His open defiance of the PDP and its failure to discipline him has portrayed the party as weak. In a country where the ruling party always manages to somehow fail, a weak opposition is the last thing Nigerians need.

    Shame should swell the plates of the PDP that is if it has any left in stock at the Wadata Plaza. Its failure to do anything of note for Nigerians was what opened the door to the pack of wolves. It has since managed to fail to test the APC sufficiently as an opposition.

    Nigerians will always remember their betrayers and those who betrayed them to their betrayers.

    • Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com
  • Hoodlums attack Benue PDP factional secretariat in Makurdi

    Hoodlums attack Benue PDP factional secretariat in Makurdi

    The factional Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, located at No. 1 Ochagwu Lawani Street, New GRA, Makurdi, has been attacked by hoodlums.

    According to Bede Bartholomew, media aide to Senator Gabriel Suswam, the assailants arrived in three vehicles, broke down the gate, and forcibly entered the offices.

    Bede said: “They ransacked offices and carted away some documents into their waiting vehicles. The incident happened at about 10 am.

    Read Also: JUST IN: PDP crisis over, say Govs, Damagun

    “The attackers reportedly removed furniture and documents from the secretariat, loading them onto the trucks.”

    CCTV footage has captured the faces of the assailants, with three individuals identified and some of them arrested.

    At press time policemen had intervened and normalcy restored.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state has two factional Secretariat in Makurdi, Benue state capital.

  • PDP crisis will not stop our victory in Ondo, says Ajayi

    PDP crisis will not stop our victory in Ondo, says Ajayi

    Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi, has expressed optimism that the crisis rocking the national leadership of the party would not affect his chances of winning the election.

    He said Ondo PDP remained united.

    Speaking in an interview in Akure, Ajayi said there was nothing special about the PDP crisis that would affect the election.

    Read Also: Ondo polls: PDP crisis will not stop our victory in Ondo, Ajayi

    He said: “Do I want to be president of Nigeria now? I am not interested in that, neither do I want to be the national chairman of the party. I want to be governor of Ondo State.

    “Every politics is local. Here in Ondo State, we are together and united in the PDP. Crisis is part of politics. They will disagree, faction here and there, but at the end of the day, we will come to a round table. We will channel a common cause that will benefit the country.

    “APC is having its crisis. Ondo State is where I want to govern and our people are together. We are together here in Ondo State.”

  • Security agencies after new acting chairman claimant for contempt, says PDP spokesman

    Security agencies after new acting chairman claimant for contempt, says PDP spokesman

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) acting national publicity secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullah Manga, has revealed that security agencies are now investigating Alhaji Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, the new claimant to the party’s acting national chairman position, and his associates for alleged contempt of court.

    According to Manga, a recent Federal High Court judgment reaffirmed Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum’s legitimacy as the party’s acting national chairman until the next national convention, scheduled for late next year.

    He said the judgment implies that any rival claims to the chairmanship position would be considered contempt of court or a threat to order, warranting attention from security agencies.

    “We are guided by law, there is a subsisting court order and any contempt of court order does not require any persuasion from us for its enforcement because the law has provided for itself, a sufficient mechanism for ensuring that violators of orders are dealt with strictly in compliance with the law.

    “Of course, we are aware that the security agencies have been set to take action on that without our prompting and by the way, where is the purported chairman at the moment; he has not shown his face, he has been in hiding and all the lies coming from the pit of hell have not been substantiated and we are going to nip it all in the bud,” he stated while addressing reporters at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

    Manga dismissed rumours of a meeting between PDP governors over the weekend to address the National Working Committee crisis, labelling them as baseless speculations.

    He emphasised that a lot of lies are being disseminated, adding that the suspended duo of PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba along with the party’s National Treasurer, Alhaji Ahmed Yayari Mohammed who now claims to be a factional acting national chairman have not dared to enter the PDP national secretariat since last Thursday.

    “Manga who alleged that some ‘drummers’ within the PDP who are outside in privileged positions are sponsoring mischief-makers within the PDP NWC further asserted that such desperate and illegal moves will soon end abruptly the same way they started, adding that ongoing reconciliation efforts within the PDP ‘does not include anything between the acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum and the so-called appointed chairman who is acting in contempt against a court judgement.

    “Neither of the suspended duo nor the so-called appointed acting national chairman have come anywhere near the PDP national secretariat; our party remains firmly united Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagum as provided by law; to the best of our knowledge, all the thirteen PDP governors are united in support of the Damagum NWC.

    Read Also: Ondo poll: PDP faults Aiyedatiwa on N73,000 minimum wage

    “There was no such meeting as the purported meeting of nine PDP governors during the weekend but some people were misled people to believe that Gov Seyi Makinde was absent at a purported meeting of nine PDP governors and elsewhere, they said that all PDP governors met virtually when Governor Seyi Makinde had three project commissioning and flew into Kaduna and then, to Lagos on the same day while the PDP governors held no meeting; it was all a lie concocted by the agents of doom and it was a lie from the pit of hell.

    “The purported appointment of an impostor national chairman came after the court order affirming Damagum’s position and it was sub judis and therefore the position of the law is that if there is a court order and action was taken in violation of same, the security agencies are duty bound to enforce the rule of law for contempt of court; therefore, without our prompting, the necessary actions (by security agencies) will follow accordingly,” the PDP acting National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullah Manga stated.

  • Kano PDP elects new executives

    Kano PDP elects new executives

    …PDP’ll bounce back in 2027 – Shekarau

    The Kano State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected 39 new executives that will pilot the affairs of the party in the state.

    The PDP is the second strong opposition in Kano after the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) rules the state.

    The PDP delegates at the state’s congress elected Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya as the new state chairman of the party.

    Kibiya was Commissioner for Agriculture during Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s administration from 1999-2003.

    He emerged victorious in the election whose result was announced on Sunday by Halilu Abubakar Mazagani, chairman of the electoral committee from the party’s national headquarters.

    Kibiya garnered 3,964 votes to secure a landslide victory over his opponent Nura Nuhu, who polled 244 votes.

    Abdul Fatah Muhammad administered the oath of office to Kibiya and the other newly elected state party leaders.

    Mazagani hailed the “smooth conduct of the congress,” saying it was an indication that the PDP would soon resolve the lingering differences between among some members of the party to make it “a better and stronger opposition that can defeat the ruling party.”

    “Our party being the largest in Africa, no doubt, faces some internal challenges, but as always, we have learnt to manage our differences.

    “I can assure you today that we are working hard to ensure unity and we are mobilising like never before, to ensure our success in the forthcoming 2027 general elections which I can confidently say the people will vote for us.

    “So, it is now left for us to present credible candidates to Nigerians like we did before and we wish to improve on that,” he said.

    Also speaking at the event, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano, assured that the PDP would bounce back by producing a winning team in the 2027 general elections.

    According to Shekarau, the PDP is poised to challenging any party in any election in the country, including the local government election scheduled to hold on October 26 in the state.

    In his acceptance speech, the new PDP state chairman (Kibiya) thanked party members for their confidence shown in him.

    He pledged to revive the PDP in state, while carrying every member along and leading with transparency.

    The Kano chapter of the PDP had been without leadership for over two years, a thing that has been affecting their political performance in the state.

    With the new executives in place, the party is expected to strengthen its presence and strategise ahead of upcoming political activities.

  • ANALYSIS: Which way forward for PDP?

    ANALYSIS: Which way forward for PDP?

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be at a crossroads. On Thursday, a gang in the party announced the suspension of the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum. His supporters said the move lacked justification, and that those who carried out the threat acted in error.

    Yesterday, the gangsterism failed. An Abuja Federal High Court quashed the suspension and restrained the party chieftains from repeating the coup. According to the court, Damagum should steer the affairs of the party as interim chairman until December next year when the party would be ready to hold its national convention.

    In PDP, there have been suspension and counter-suspension. There is division in the National Working Committee (NWC). A faction of the NWC aligned with Damagum had announced the suspension of the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for alleged disloyalty to the party.

    In a new twist, Ologunagba also announced the suspension of Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu for disloyalty and insubordination The faction appointed Yayari Mohammed as acting national chairman.

    Three issues emanated from the scenario. The agreed formula for change of party leadership was grossly violated by over-zealous foes of Damagum, who deliberately neglected the processes of electing and removing party officers as enshrined in Articles 42, 47 and 67 of the PDP constitution.

    Read Also: FACT-CHECK: Can CNG cars, trucks, vehicles explode?

    Also, those who hurriedly converged to sack the acting chairman attempted to disrupt the party’s internal balance of power between regions.

    The anti-Damagum forces also acted before thinking. At a time the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Brig-General Oyinlola is going round the six geo-political zones with a message of peace to calm down nerves, the pro-suspension faction struck. Their miscalculation made a nonsense of the reconciliation process.

    The consequences are that the protracted crisis has escalated; mutual trust and confidence were destroyed, aptly replaced by distrust and suspicion. It is a fallout of the glaring absence of leadership; not leadership as in an assemblage of party officers who pale into glorified errand boys, but elders of conscience held in esteem by all, and to who the majority can defer; a leadership that can restore order into a state of pandemonium.

    What is clear is that the conflict between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate in last year’s election, and Nyesom Wike, former PDP governor of Rivers, has assumed a new dimension. The two gladiators are locked in a battle of supremacy in the party.

    Damagum, National Vice Chairman (Northeast), is perceived as a loyalist of Wike; those threatening to shove him aside seem to have sympathy for Atiku.

    Indisputably, there is also a linkage between the protracted crisis in Rivers, as exemplified in Fubara/Wike tango, at the crisis at the national secretariat. Ologunagba said Damagum and Anyanwu were suspended over their position on the 27pro-Wike House of Assembly members.

    Since the rancorous PDP presidential primary, Atiku and Wike had parted ways. The bone of contention was the lopsided or skewed distribution of top election slots and party offices between the North bloc and South bloc in a way that would have fostered equity.

    Contrary to the recent pontification of rotational presidency by the Turaki Adamawa, zoning was downplayed. Also, contrary to the PDP constitution and convention that no bloc zone should appropriate both the presidential ticket and the position of national chairman, the North took the two prime positions. Hell was let loose in the opposition party.

    While Atiku, erstwhile presidential candidate, could not be asked to jettison his ticket at that stage, the only remedy was for Iyorchia Ayu to make a big sacrifice by stepping down as chairman.

    Ayu later became the casualty of the plot by G-5 Governors hatched in Sam Ortom’s Benue State, where he was suspended by his native Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area.

    In filling the vacancy, the party followed the due process outlined in its constitution, which stipulates that whenever a national chairman is removed, the National Deputy Chairman from his bloc region should fill the void. Thus, when Ayu from the North was sacked, Damagum from the North started acting as national chairman.

    According to the PDP constitution and convention, when a national chairman fails to complete his tenure, his micro-zone (Northcentral) of the larger bloc zone (North) should produce a replacement. Meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) ought to be summoned to clear the path for the selection of a replacement.  Thrice it was called. Yet, PDP could not make a headway. That is why chairmanship aspirants from Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Benue and Nasarawa are on the prowl.

    To them, Damagum as acting chairman is an impediment. Thus, frantic campaigns have been on for his removal or suspension.

    However, despite their vituperation, the acting chairman can only be replaced at the national convention or through a court order.

    The road to that convention is bumpy. Amid the crisis, the activities of the factional NWC can only compound the controversy. Neither of the two factions, as it now appears, can fully exist independently of the other.

    Both factions have to return to the court, if they cannot embrace a truce. They are running from pillar to post to strengthen their positions. Their activities create stress for the party. The timing is also wrong because the party is also warming up for a critical governorship poll in Ondo State.

    PDP is in a difficult situation. It has embarked on another problematic journey. Ahead of 2027, PDP wobbles into an uncertain future that may lead to doom, if the combatants refuse to return to the table of brotherhood and embrace genuine reconciliation.

  • War in PDP as Atiku, Wike factions battle for control

    War in PDP as Atiku, Wike factions battle for control

    • NWC faction suspends Acting Chairman, National Secretary

    • Court bars NEC from sacking Damagum before Dec 2025

    • BoT intervenes; urges peace, return to status quo

    • Party would emerge stronger from crisis – Bala Mohammed

    The bad blood generated in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by its loss of the 2023 presidential election snowballed into an open confrontation yesterday between the two main factions battling for the soul of the party.

    Supporters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,the  PDP presidential candidate in that election and those of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike launched into a battle of wits, with each side claiming to sack key party functionaries loyal to the other side.

    The day broke with Atiku supporters announcing the suspension of the PDP acting National Chairman Umar Damagum  and the  National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, for alleged anti-party activities.

    They proceeded to name Alhaji Yayari Mohammed as Damagum’s replacement.

    Swift reactions came from the Wike faction which not only got a Federal High Court Abuja injunction restraining the party from removing Damagum,but  also issued a counter statement suspending the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade  and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba for alleged disloyalty to the party.

    Their offices at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja were under lock and key all day yesterday.

    Ologunagba signed the statement suspending Damagum and Anyanwu.

    The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) asked the gladiators to sheath their swords, de-escalate the tension and revert to the status quo to “preserve the unity and stability of our great party.”

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    The PDP Governors Forum said it was stepping into the matter and expressed optimism that the party would emerge stronger from the crisis.

    Ologunagba in a statement early yesterday said Damagum and Anyanwu were suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.

    His words: “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.”

    A counter statement came from the Wike side a few hours later.

    The PDP National secretariat’s Director of Publicity, Pastor Chinwe Nnorom who signed it said Ologunagba and Kamaldeen had been suspended.

    She   said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thursday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Hon Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside, respectively.

    “As a result, the NWC constituted a committee to be chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South) H.E. Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.

    “Following the NWC’s decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in acting capacity with effect from Friday, October 11, 2014, pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee: the officers are Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Esq, Acting National Publicity Secretary and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser.”

    Soon afterward, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Manga issued a two-paragraph press statement announcing his assumption of office as  Acting National Publicity Secretary in place of the ‘suspended  ‘Ologunagba.

    His words:“Arising from its 593rd meeting,10th October,2024,the National Working Committee has suspended the National Publicity Secretary and the National Legal Adviser of the Party,pending the determination of allegations of DISLOYALTY and INSUBORDINATION levelled against the duo

    “In the meantime,the Deputies in the respective DIRECTORATES,Ibrahim Abdullahi and Barr Okechukwu Osuoha, have stepped-in in acting capacity.”

    “Rivers issues at core of PDP NWC Split” says new PDP spokesman

    Manga also addressed a press conference where he shed more light on the situation.

    According to him Ologunagba and Ajibade exhibited insubordination and disloyalty in their support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent local government election.

    He said that a meeting attended by 12  members of the party’s  National Working Committee (NWC) recorded eight votes in support of a boycott of the  local government election but the suspended duo went ahead to contradict the NWC position and thereby helped to confer legitimacy on the election.

    He said the Arapaja committee would probe Ologunagba and Ajibade over the next two weeks.

    He said Ologunagba would have to explain when the meeting to appoint a replacement for Damagum took place.

    “Nobody can wake up from the wrong side of the bed to make announcements that mislead the public and we stated that the 593rd session of the NWC meeting formally decided on suspension of the duo; I wouldn’t know at what forum, in what city, with what number and who were the dignitaries that came up with that kind of narrative when what is wrong is wrong,” Manga said.

    Court restrains PDP’s NEC, BoT from removing Acting National Chair Damagum 

    Justice Peter Lifu  of the Federal High Court , Abuja, restrained  the PDP  National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum as acting National chairman and also ordered that no person must be recognised as PDP chairman  other than Damagum until the national convention of the party scheduled for December next year.

    Justice Lifu held that under Articles 42, 47 and 67 of PDP constitution, it is only at the National Convention of the party that national officers can be elected.

    The judge said PDP members are bound by the Constitution of the party and as such must always act in line with the provisions and obedience to the party’s law

    The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/579/2024 was filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina who claimed to be chairman of PDP in Yobe State.

    Respondents in the suit are PDP and eight others.

    The plaintiff alleged that some stakeholders of the party had been holding clandestine meetings to forcefully remove Damagum from office in gross violation of the party’s Constitution.

    He said that a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Dr Phillip Omeiza Salawu was being pushed forward as replacement for Damagun by the stakeholders.

    Maina claimed that upon becoming aware of the plan, two separate letters complaining against the clandestine meetings were delivered to the national secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and that despite the acknowledgment of the two letters, the National Secretary and BoT members never deemed it fit to act on the letters and their claims.

    In the suit instituted on his behalf by Joshua Musa, SAN, the plaintiff therefore prayed the court to invoke article 45, 47 and 67 of PDP Constitution to stop the move to replace Damagum as the Acting National Chairman.

    The plaintiff specifically asked the court to declare that the national chairmanship of PDP is rotated between the north and south region and not through any other procedure not enshrined in the PDP’s Constitution.

    In his ruling delivered by Zoom after perusing the PDP’s Constitution and exhibits, Justice Lifu agreed with the plaintiff that Damagum can only be replaced at the national convention of PDP or through an order of a court.

    Justice Lifu also held that any attempt to truncate un-exhausted four years tenure of the northern region without the national convention of the party will amount to an affront to the Constitution of the PDP.

    Earlier, the judge had dismissed the opposition of the defendants to the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff had no locus standi to bring out the case and that the court lacked jurisdiction.

    Justice Lifu held that the plaintiff predicated his suit on the protection of PDP Constitution from violation, and the northern region from where he hails from being denied its four year tenure.

    Justice Lifu said that the plaintiff having displayed his PDP membership card before the court and having raised the fundamental issue of protection PDP’s Constitution had sufficient interest and justiciable cause to institute the case.

    The judge therefore declared that PDP NEC and BoT are bound by the party’s Constitution and that Damagum as national chairman can only be replaced through the national convention of the party.

    He also held that Damagum, having been appointed from the northern region where the former national chairman Senator Iyorcha Ayu hailed from, is entitled to serve out the remaining tenure of the national chairman.

    Revert to status quo, BoT tells warring factions

    Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara,warned both sides to shun any act that could worsen the crisis in the party.

    He called for a return to the status quo by the two sides and  to de-escalate tensions for the sake of party unity.

    He said:  “In the light of the on-going internal crisis within the National Working Committee (NWC), the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to address the situation and provide clarity on the party’s stance.

    “The BoT calls on all sides of the NWC to sheath their swords and de-escalate the tension; the warring persons must, in the overall interest of the party, revert to the status quo to preserve the unity and stability of our great party.

    “We understand that disagreements may arise, but as a party with a long-standing tradition of internal democracy, we must not let these challenges derail our collective vision; the Board of Trustees will meet with the members of the NWC to intervene, foster reconciliation, and ensure that normalcy is restored in the NWC of our Great Party.

    “We call on all party faithful and supporters to remain calm during this period; the PDP has an effective conflict resolution mechanism, and we are confident that the current issues will be addressed and resolved in a manner that strengthens the party.”

    PDP will come out of crisis strong, says Bauchi gov

    Damagum, who was in Bauchi when his ‘suspension’ by the Atiku faction was announced, paid a courtesy call on Governor Bala Mohammed.

    Mohammed who doubles as Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum said there were no factions in the party although he acknowledged that it has some problems.

    He said the problems were not insurmountable and expressed optimism that it would come out of the crisis stronger.

    Speaking at the end of his meeting with Damagum,the governor said: “I would say that we have met and discussed these situations extensively with the acting National Chairman and we have agreed to work together along with other party organs –the BOT, the members of the Governors’ Forum, the Caucus of the Senate and the House to resolve all these issues and that is the major takeaway of this visit.

    “We will deepen stake holding, collaboration so that all these issues that are disparaging the members of the party would be resolved and nipped in the bud.

    “We have decided that henceforth, we will not allow a gap and we will make sure that we resolve all these issues.

    “We are not recognizing any faction, we are together as a body and definitely at the end of the day, we will resolve all issues.”

    He said he was consulting with his fellow PDP governors on the next line of action.

    “We have agreed, in the presence of other stakeholders, that we will do whatever it takes to restore the party’s glory so it can achieve victory in the 2027 elections,” Mohammed said.

    On his part Damagum said “You can see the chairmen of the Northeast PDP with me. They come here also to support me to reiterate their commitment that the Northeast, where they come from is one, and also they believe in the leadership of the governor’s forum chairman.

    “Today we came for a friendly visit to discuss many things.”

    Only two months ago, the PDP set up a 25-member National Reconciliation Committee to resolve the crisis tearing the party apart.

    The committee is headed by  a former governor of Osun State, Prince  Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

  • Ondo polls: PDP faults Aiyedatiwa’s request for supplementary budget

    Ondo polls: PDP faults Aiyedatiwa’s request for supplementary budget

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has faulted a request by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the Ondo State House of Assembly to approve a N487bn supplementary budget.

    It said it was a decoy by Aiyedatiwa to mobilise funds to prosecute next month’s governorship election.

    The Ondo Assembly had stepped down hearing of the supplementary budget for the Second Reading following the failure of the Commissioner for Finance, Omowumi Isaac, to honour the invitation of the lawmakers.

    Omowumi was expected to explain the performance of the 2024 budget and grey areas in the supplementary budget.

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    The Assembly, however, threatened to issue a bench warrant on her if she failed to appear.

    The Spokesman of the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, praised the lawmakers rejecting the N487bn supplementary budget proposal by Governor Aiyedatiwa.

    Peretei said the lawmakers were peeved that the 2024 Appropriation Act performed by less than 20% implementation.

    According to the statement, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, salutes the courage of the legislators for rejecting this Amendment bill, coming barely a month to the governorship election in the State.

    “Our party believes that the N487bn requested, is a decoy to mobilise funds to prosecute the governorship election, having failed tragically in all areas of governance to deliver the dividends of democracy, after being in office as governor for ten months.”