Gloria Robert, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has plunged deeper into internal crisis as a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, representing the factional NWC, named the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the new Acting National Chairman.
Anyanwu said Damagum and other senior officials were suspended for alleged incompetence, financial misconduct, and disregard for court judgments. “The National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has been suspended for one month and will face the Disciplinary Committee. The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba; Deputy National Vice Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro; National Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade; and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, have also been suspended,” he stated.
He added that all suspended members would appear before the Disciplinary Committee to explain why they should not be expelled from the party.
The move comes days after the NWC under Damagum’s leadership suspended Senator Anyanwu, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members, escalating the ongoing leadership tussle within the PDP.
Mohammed Abdulrahman, now acting as the party’s National Chairman, has nearly ten years of experience covering political parties, elections, civil society activities, and the Nigeria Governors Forum.
The latest development signals a deepening crisis in one of Nigeria’s major political parties, with both factions claiming legitimacy over party leadership ahead of critical conventions and elections.