The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) National Working Committee ( NWC) has deepened with the suspension and counter suspension orders by the two factions of the party.
The NWC in two separate statements, issued in the early hours of Friday, announced the suspension of the acting National chairman, Umar Damagum, the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, national publicity secretary, Debo Olugunagba and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade for alleged anti-party.
In the first statement, signed by the Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, indicated that the NWC, at its 593rd meeting, on Thursday, directed Ologunagba and Ajibade to step aside pending the conclusion of an investigation of allegations against them.
the statement read: “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.”
However, in a twist, the National Publicity Secretary, in another statement, announced the suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu for alleged anti-party activities.
Olugunagba explained that the decision to suspend the acting national chairman and national secretary, was reached at, meeting of the NWC, on Thursday. According to him, the duo were suspended over a letter they authored to the Court of Appeal in respect to the case involving 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected to the All Progressives Congress ( APC).
The statement read: “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.”
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