PDP BoT backs Damagum, sets up panel to resolve leadership crisis

The board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a committee to reconcile warring factions within the party.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its emergency meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, the BoT said the committee’s mandate is to “reconcile all conflicting sides and restore unity” ahead of the elective convention on November 15.

The members of the committee are Hassan Adamu (north-east), who serves as chairman, and Mike Oghiadomhe (south-south) as the secretary.

Other members are Ugochukwu Okeke (south-east), Zaynab Kure (north-central), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (south-west), and Lubna Gusau (north-west).

The BoT directed the reconciliation committee to submit its report on November 11 for further action.

“BoT reaffirms that the PDP remains a united, formidable and focused political party under the leadership of the Amb. Iliya Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC),” the communique reads.

The BoT commended the court judgement which ordered Umar Damagum, the embattled national chairman, and the PDP to hold the convention on the aforementioned date.

“This landmark ruling is victory to democracy, rule of law and political development in our country,” the BoT said.

The BoT members said the tensions and “regrettable incidents” playing out in the party, including the “invasion” of the national secretariat “are not reflective of the ideals and character of the PDP”.

“As the conscience of the party, the BoT cannot and will not take sides but remain focused on safeguarding the integrity of the PDP and ensuring dialogue over discord,” the BoT said.

“The decision for reconciliation is not as a sign of weakness, but as a demonstration of maturity and responsibility.”

BACKGROUND

On Saturday, the PDP NWC, led by Damagum, suspended Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary; Kamaldeen Ajibade, national legal adviser; Okechukwu Osuoha, deputy legal adviser; and Umaru Bature, national organising secretary.

Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, who announced the suspension, said the decision followed an emergency meeting of the NWC in Abuja.

In tit-for-tat move, Anyanwu’s faction, which has backing of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) suspended Damagum, Ologunagba, Taofeek Arapaja, the deputy national vice-chairman (south); Daniel Woyenguikoro, national financial secretary; Sulaiman Kadade, national youth leader; and Setonji Koshoedo, deputy national secretary.

Anyanwu’s faction subsequently appointed Abdulrahman Mohammed as the acting national chairman, claiming that the decision was necessary to restore order and legitimacy within the party’s national leadership.

On Monday, Mohammed declared himself the PDP acting national chairman at the party’s secretariat.   

He was accompanied to the PDP headquarters by a crowd of loyalists who demanded Damagum’s resignation.