The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ‘s embattled acting national chairman Ambassador Illiya Damagum withstood attempts to remove him from office following a week of intense political maneuvering.
Yesterday highly anticipated 98th PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) praised the party leadership and gave Damagum a four-month lifeline to supervise party congresses in states with executive vacancies.
By August the congresses are supposed to be finished. High-stakes meetings and agitations for Damagums removal due to alleged anti-party acts come to an end if temporarily with the NECs lifeline to Damagum. At the national caucus meeting which concluded late on Wednesday, there were signs that the beleaguered chairman would pull through from the NEC eviction scare.
The PDP national caucus a strategic body of the party made up of current and past leaders had decided to let Damagum stay in his position until the following NEC meeting. It was decided that the topic of leadership change would not be on the NEC agenda according to Debo Ologunagba national publicity secretary who spoke following the caucus meeting.
Following yesterday’s NEC meeting Damagum stated that efforts to remove him from office are not a do-or-die situation. According to him, there is no possibility of him losing his job because he would have returned to his previous role as national deputy chairman. Damagum will get a lifeline from the opposition. The opposition lawmakers had earlier claimed yesterday that Damagum retention was necessary to allow members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be included in the PDP state executives.
The group that opposed Damagum’s continued tenure in office claimed in a statement released by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere that those responsible for the plot wanted to gather a larger following when they defected to the APC. Furthermore, PDP North Central stakeholders were calling for the election of an acting chairman from their area with more vigor.
To make room for a national chairman from the North Central region as the party had originally intended they had pushed for Damagum who is from Yobe State (North East) to resign from his position as acting PDP chairman. Despite not being on the NEC agenda a source at the meeting claimed that the leadership change was discussed under the other order of business.
However, the caucus had addressed it and decided that it should wait until the following NEC meeting so it was advised that it not be discussed further. Less than two hours passed during the 353-member NEC closed session. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike were present at the event.
Former governors of Benue Abia and Enugu were among the G-5 members in attendance. Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde was also in attendance. Atiku however remained silent throughout the event’s opening remarks which were delivered by other party leaders such as Damagum Adolphus Wabara chairman of the Board of Trade and legislators and governors representing the PDP. His media team did not return calls so attempts to get a response from them were unsuccessful.
The party’s national secretariat Wuse Zone 5 Wadata Street was cordoned off and the event was heavily policed. At the party secretariat, the commissioner of police was also spotted. But in response to a question concerning the calls for Damagums dismissal at the NEC PDP spokesman Ologunagba stated At this point our party emphasizes the need for stability and reconciliation within the party.
The matter about the national chairman Damagum has been postponed until the following NEC meeting which is anticipated to take place on August 15, 2024. . When questioned about how he managed to survive the agitation surrounding the leadership change Damagum responded This is not a matter of life and death. .
As a member of this NWC, I remain elected. I will remain an NWC member even if I take on the role of deputy national chairman. The question of whether or not to survive is not raised. . Speaking as well Bauchi State governor and chairman of the PDP governors forum Bala Mohammed remarked You can see there was no dissension and rancor. . There was supposed to be an explosion at the party. PDP has expanded beyond all of these quirks we are more than that. With experience and constitutionality as its compass, this party is cohesive. Out there there were lots of combinations and cunning ideas.
However, we considered every aspect and followed our policies and constitution. Members are not at odds with one another or having problems. . Mohammed commented We will see a lot of activities in the next two months regarding the push for a North Central chairman. Being a leader comes with responsibilities.
We intend to conclude our congresses by September. We will examine the leadership issue as well as the whereabouts of our constitution. And well accomplish it without hostility… The Bauchi governor had expressed faith in the Damagum-led NWC and other party organs in a previous statement.
NEC commends all the organs of the party for their collective resilience steadfastness and commitment towards the unity stability and sustenance of our great party despite daunting challenges Ologunagba stated reading the communiqué released following the NEC meeting. The All Progressives Congress (APC) which is divisive and anti-people has taken on an aggressive campaign to weaken the opposition and impose a one-party state on our country. For this reason, the NC commends PDP members especially the women and young people for their bravery in defying its antics.
The party’s NEC also voiced concern over the APC administration’s policies which have worsened national insecurity caused extreme economic hardship and skyrocketing unemployment increased the cost of food and other necessities of life and generally contributed to widespread misery and despair. The National Security Council after careful deliberation requires President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call an immediate special meeting of the Council to present a comprehensive plan of action and curb the unsettling insecurity and its associated detrimental effects on our country’s way of life.
To help reposition the economy NEC further demands that President Tinubu immediately reorganize his Economic Team adding individuals with a track record of competence and honesty who are free from prejudice and personal gain. According to him NEC further demands that the federal government review all policies and programs that are stifling the economy with a suffocating effect on the lives of citizens including the increase in fuel prices without cushioning measures the increase in electricity tariffs increased taxation and the implementation of adverse fiscal policies. .
It called on all PDP organs leaders important stakeholders and actual members to unite set aside their individual and collective interests and collaborate in the larger endeavor to realign and restore the PDP to power in the best interests of the Nigerian people. The current tension within the party was allegedly caused by Damagums prolonged tenure as acting chairman and the controversies surrounding the nomination of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary.
Senator Adolphus Wabara the chairman of the Board of Trade declared I have to speak about something that is very important to all of us: the party’s current leadership. Keeping in mind the circumstances that resulted in the removal of the previous party chairman H. A. E. As per the party custom the area the national officer is from ought to have produced a strong candidate to finish the term of the outgoing national officer. However, Senator Iyorchia Ayu the acting chairman has been in office for more than a year.
Moreover, the controversial matter concerning the national secretary’s position has unfortunately planted the seeds of division within our party.
Our group’s attempts to achieve our admirable goals have been hampered by the uncertainty surrounding this position which has caused confusion and internal conflict. There is no doubt that our party constitution contains the answers to these two problems but purposeful litigation has prevented the application of these constitutional remedies.
We must settle this issue as quickly as possible keeping in mind the interests of our party and its members and transparency. The Ward and LGA executive structures of our party are about to expire in several states bringing with it a critical opportunity to revitalize and reposition our party for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. As we approach this new era we must seize it. .
Former vice president Namadi Sambo governors of Bauchi State Oyo State Adamawa State Bayelsa State Duoye Diri Osun State Ademola Adeleke Rivers State Sim Fubara Delta State Sheriff Francis Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Eno Umo were among those present at the meeting. Atiku Abubakar was also present.
The minister for the FCT Nyesom Wike is also present at the meeting. Members of the NWC the National Assemblies principal officers former governors ministers state chairmen and other NEC members are among the others. The APC chairman Ganduje is saved in Kano by a court.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje was allegedly suspended by his Ganduje ward in the Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State but this was stopped by a Federal High Court sitting in Kano State.
The ruling came about as a result of a motion filed ex parte by Dr. Ganduje to uphold his fundamental right to a just trial. Nine other people as well as the Nigeria Police Department of State Services (DSS) Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and certified true copy of the order were among the respondents in the application that was obtained from BNN on Friday was able to view. The presiding Judge A. provided journalists with access to the ex parte order on Thursday after it was delivered on Wednesday.
The supposed suspension shouldn’t be put into effect until the case is heard and decided according to M. Liman of the Federal High Court Kano. The decision made during the alleged emergency meeting of the alleged Executive members of APC Ganduje Ward held at Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local is hereby restraining all Respondents their servants agents or privies from implementing and/or giving effect to it.
It is hereby mandated that all parties maintain the status quo before the alleged emergency meeting of APC Ganduje Wards executive members and refrain from taking any further action regarding this matter until the substantive application has been heard and decided upon Liman stated. The judge then scheduled the hearing for Ganduje’s appeal for April 30.
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