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Accuses them of anti-party activities
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a turn for the worse, as a faction of the National Working Committee, NWC, has suspended the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu for anti party activities.
The suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu came few hours after the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade were suspended on Thursday night by the other faction of the party.
The statement announcing the suspension of the party’s National Publicity Secretary and the National Legal Adviser was signed by the Director of Publicity of the party, Chinwe Nnorom.
Another statement issued by the deputy National Publicity Secretary, Hon Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga as acting NPS of the party, accused Ologunagba and Ajibade of disloyalty and insubordination.
Both Ologunagba and Ajibade’s deputies were directed to take over the two offices in acting capacity.
However, Ologunagba, in counter statement in the early hours of Friday, accused the acting National Chairman and Secretary of anti party activities, declaring them suspended.
The statement by Ologunagba entitled
“Press Release on the Decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP on the Reported Anti-Party Activity by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu”, condemned the said anti party activities on the part of Damagum and Anyanwu.
The statement reads, “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.
“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee”, it said.
The statement by the acting National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, reads, “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”, it concluded.
The first statement issued by Chinwe Nnorom, announcing the suspension of Ologunagba and Ajibade, reads, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thurday, 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
“The NWC enjoins all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain focused and committed as it pilots the day-to-day affairs of the PDP for its greater good”, it said.
