The ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu for alleged anti-party activities. The decision came after an emergency NWC meeting held in Abuja, which concluded in the early hours of Friday.
Sources indicate that the suspension is linked to a controversial letter addressed to the Court of Appeal by Damagum and Anyanwu. The letter opposed the party’s official stance regarding the case of 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). These members were subsequently challenged by the PDP for vacating their seats.
In a statement issued, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba confirmed the NWC’s decision. He explained that the party leadership found the actions of the two national officers to be in clear violation of the PDP Constitution, as amended in 2017, and their respective oaths of office. According to the statement:
“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, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, particularly regarding the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal 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… which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution and their Oath of Office.”
Under Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution, the NWC resolved to suspend both Damagum and Anyanwu from their roles. They were also referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further investigation and action. Pending the conclusion of the inquiry, the two officials have been barred from all party meetings, activities, and programs.
The suspension follows recent calls from the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) for party members to comply with disciplinary procedures when summoned. At the 78th meeting of the BoT, Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara urged the NWC to ensure that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meets on October 24 as scheduled, amidst the growing internal tensions.
This development marks a deepening of the internal crisis that has plagued the PDP in recent months, raising concerns about the party’s stability as it navigates leadership challenges and legal disputes.
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