Wabara-backed PDP BoT panel recommends suspension of convention

A reconciliation committee set up by the board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the party to suspend its forthcoming national convention.

The convention is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.

According to a report seen by TheCable, the panel stated that, given the multiple court orders, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is unlikely to monitor the exercise.

The committee recommended setting up an “all-inclusive caretakers committee (CTC)” instead of proceeding with the convention.

The six-member reconciliation committee was inaugurated on November 5 by the PDP BoT, led by Adolphus Wabara, to resolve the leadership crisis in the opposition party.

Umar Damagum, the embattled national chairman of the PDP, attended the BoT meeting where the committee was inaugurated.

“A failed convention will incapacitate the ability of the party to field candidates at all levels nationally,” the report reads.

The convention is backed by Wabara, PDP governors and Damagum.

WIKE, PDP GOVERNORS TRADE ACCUSATIONS

The committee met with Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT); the PDP Governors Forum; the Damagum-led national working committee (NWC); and a faction led by Samuel Anyanwu, the suspended national secretary.

During a meeting with Wike, the FCT minister questioned the neutrality of the committee, stating that its formation at a meeting attended by Damagum had prejudiced the process.

He accused the PDP governors of hijacking party structures, saying Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, and Agbu Kefas were pursuing “selfish agendas”.

Wike insisted that no convention should be held until all court orders were lifted.

He also criticised the cancellation of congresses in the south-east and south-south and accused the zoning committee of “fundamental errors”.

In a separate meeting, Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, accused Wike of “betrayal” and attempting to weaken and destroy the PDP.

Mohammed stated that Wike was “trouble-prone” and would not cease attacking the party’s leadership, adding that the governors had fulfilled their side of previous agreements.

DAMAGUM’S NWC DEFENDS SUSPENSIONS

During a meeting with the reconciliation committee, the Damagum-led national working committee (NWC) justified the suspension of Anyanwu, Kamaldeen Ajibade, national legal adviser; Okechukwu Osuoha, deputy legal adviser; and Umaru Bature, national organising secretary, alleging “anti-party activities”.

But Anyanwu’s faction countered the claims when the committee met with his group, accusing Damagum of disobeying court orders, sidelining the NWC members, mishandling INEC notifications, and running the party without consultation.

SARAKI WARNS OF CONSEQUENCES

The committee also met with former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who warned that holding the convention under the current circumstances would fracture the party “irreparably”.

Saraki stated that the crisis originated from unresolved issues surrounding the national secretary position, collapsed agreements on state and zonal congresses, and “ego” within the governors’ forum.

The committee recommended lifting all suspensions imposed on members and pursuing genuine reconciliation.

COURT JUDGMENTS HALTING THE CONVENTION

There have been conflicting court rulings, halting and permitting the conduct of the party’s national convention.

A federal high court in Abuja, the nation’s capital, had restrained the PDP from holding the elective convention.

But on November 4, a state high court in Oyo state ordered the PDP and Damagum to proceed with the event.

On November 11, another judge at the federal high court in Abuja issued a temporary order, stopping the party from holding the convention.

The judge also barred INEC from supervising, monitoring or recognising the outcome of the convention if held.

On Friday, the Abuja federal high court made a final order restraining the PDP from conducting the national convention.

Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, gave the order while delivering judgement in a suit filed by Sule Lamido, the former Jigawa state governor.

Lamido had sued the party for allegedly denying him the opportunity to purchase the chairmanship nomination form, which would have enabled him to participate in the convention.

Hours later, the Oyo state high court ordered the PDP to proceed with the elective convention.

LEADERSHIP CRISIS

The opposition party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis.

Following the suspension of Anyanwu, Ajibade, Osuoha, and Bature by the Damagum-led NCW, the affected officials responded with a counteraction.

Anyanwu’s faction, which has the backing 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.

The Anyanwu faction subsequently dissolved the Wabara-led BoT and inaugurated Mao Ohabunwa as chairman and Isah Dansidi as secretary.