PDP to summon emergency meeting over crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has fixed Monday 14 October 2024 to have a crucial meeting over its lingering crisis.

Sunday PUNCH reports that a senior party member said that the PDP Governors Forum had called for an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss various concerns regarding the party’s future.

The newspaper also quoted the source as revealing that PDP stakeholders were considering the establishment of a caretaker committee to guide the party toward a National Convention to elect a new National Working Committee.

Since becoming the acting National Chairman following Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s removal, Umar Damagum has faced increasing criticism from party leaders over the ongoing crisis in the PDP, resulting in calls for his resignation.

“Damagum’s indecisiveness has contributed to the tense political situation in Rivers State between Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“On Friday, in a surprising turn of events, Damagum’s faction of the NWC, through the party’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, announced the suspension of National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) for alleged insubordination and anti-party.

“Shortly after, a statement signed by Ologunagba indicated that the NWC had suspended Damagum and National Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu for alleged disloyalty to the PDP, appointing National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the acting National Chairman.

“The source, who was in the meeting between the Bauchi Governor and Damagum’s faction of the NWC reported that the chairman of the PDP governors Forum urged for calm,” the newspaper reports.

It directly quoted the source as saying, “Governor Bala Mohammed is worried about the situation. During his meeting with Damagum’s team on Friday, he welcomed them and called for calm. The governor urged them to restore the status quo to keep the NWC unified and allow the NEC to address the issues at its next meeting.

“To tackle these concerns, I understand that the governors have called an emergency meeting for Monday. Some stakeholders are discussing the possibility of appointing a new caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs and organize an elective national convention in 2025 to usher in new NWC.

“These stakeholders believe that reconciliation efforts will not lead to the current NWC members collaborating for the party’s benefit. However, they are also cautious due to the ongoing litigation surrounding the Damagum and NWC situation. Therefore, the governors will convene to consider all these issues.”