PDP Crisis: Damagum Camp, Anti-Wike Government May Clash Today

As they meet to discuss the party’s internal crisis, which took a more serious turn on Friday after the emergence of a factional PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Yayari Mohammed, the 13 state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party are headed for a potential showdown today (Monday).

The demand to oust Umar Damagum, the interim national chairman of the PDP and an ally of Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, took a new turn on Friday.

The decision to remove Damagum has caused division among the PDP governors; six governors, including Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, are leading the effort to remove Damagum.

Mohammed is accompanied by Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.

In the meantime, Wike’s friends, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, are against Damagum’s dismissal.

Governors Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State are also alongside Makinde.

Two of the 13 governors, though, are impartial. They are Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah.

According to reports, the PDP governors called an emergency meeting for today (Monday) as the party’s internal crisis worsened over the weekend.

Due to the delicate nature of the situation, a senior member of the PDP National Working Committee told our correspondent that the governors’ meeting today’s primary agenda item is the potential reconciliation between the Damagum and the faction’s chairman, Yayari Mohammed’s camp.

According to the party chieftain, the PDP governors will be asking for guidance on which course to take over Damagum and Yayari at the Zoom-hosted meeting.

He stated, “The governors will meet on Monday. In their meeting, they will review actions taken by both groups, namely the Damagum and Mohammed factions of the NWC. There will be extensive discussion about last week’s suspension. From what I have gathered, they will decide whether to uphold or cancel the suspensions from both camps, which may lead to voting among them.

“They will have to decide the fate of both factions of the NWC, as this will determine which faction will chair the October 24 NEC and will also significantly impact whether the NEC meeting will proceed. Essentially, the NWC and the NEC are the major issues that the governors will address.

“Though the governors are also divided, as you are aware, Bauchi’s governor and a few others are against Wike’s ally, Damagum. Meanwhile, Makinde, Fintiri, and Mutfwang are leading the pro-Damagum faction. Despite the division, they will engage in a heart-to-heart conversation and attempt to reach a conclusion on the genuine NWC leadership and ensure the NEC meeting is held as scheduled.”

It was reported, the Damagum faction of the NWC unexpectedly declared on Friday that Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, and Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), the National Legal Adviser, had been suspended for alleged anti-party and insubordinate actions.

The National Treasurer, Yayari Mohammed, was named acting National Chairman by the NWC after Damagum and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, were suspended for disloyalty, according to a statement released shortly after by Ologunagba.

It was gathered that the governors would be trying to calm the party down during their meeting today.

The source stated, “The governors are meeting tomorrow (Monday), and the main agenda is to find solutions to some of the issues affecting the PDP at all levels.

“What they will do is agree on a framework that captures the interests of both groups and all stakeholders, helping to assuage tensions so they can recommit to the party leadership.

“The October 24 NEC will be held as scheduled. It is cast in stone and will proceed.”

Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Damagum’s camp’s acting national publicity secretary, maintained that the governors could not reverse the decision to suspend Ologunagba.

Abdullahi stated, “The governors do not have such powers. The decision has been made. They cannot simply come and say that as the Governors’ Forum, they are ordering the NWC to revert to the status quo. There is no truth in that.

“The PDP Governors’ Forum cannot question the NWC’s decision; only the NEC can do that. And as far as the NEC is concerned, that decision has been taken for good.”

Abdullahi told party leaders backing the Mohammed-led group of the NWC to quit wasting their time, and he confirmed that the October 24 NEC meeting will go forward as planned.

He stated, “The NEC scheduled for October 24 will proceed as planned, by the grace of God. We advise those supporting them to stop wasting their time and to respect the party’s constitution in matters like this.

“We appeal to those leaders to consider the bigger picture, as many Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to rescue them from the hopelessness of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government, and they should allow these individuals to clear their names.”

Additionally, Abdullahi maintained that the disciplinary committee, led by former Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Ikimi, and the reconciliation committee, led by former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, would not get involved in the NWC conflict since it was outside the purview of their respective mandates.

Our correspondent was unable to get in touch with Ologunagba, the Mohammed faction’s interim national publicity secretary, as he did not return our calls or messages.

The PDP National Reconciliation Committee Chairman, Oyinlola, stated that the committee was awaiting additional directives to step in when contacted for comment.

The former governor of Osun State, however, questioned who would issue such a directive considering the party’s leadership’s division.

“If we are directed, we will; but who will direct?” Oyinlola remarked in response to a query about whether the national reconciliation committee will step in to address the new problem.

Mohammed, the factional acting PDP National Chairman, said that recent events within the PDP call for careful consideration in an acceptance address given to reporters in Abuja on Sunday.

The North Central zone, which has the constitutional right to choose a successor to Damagum, was encouraged by the factional acting National Chairman to convene immediately and send its candidate to his office for the NEC’s consideration and required preparations.

He said, “Regrettably, we must admit that we have not satisfactorily carried out the critical role expected of a virile opposition in a democracy. This, it has been observed, is as a result of conflict of interests – personal or political – elevated above party interest, which continues to have debilitating effect on the ability of our party to perform effectively at various levels, particularly at the national level.

“This state of affairs continues to affect the performance and viability of our party to perform its role as expected as a platform which Nigerians have come to admire and look up to in view of the robust Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and the monumental achievements of the party in the 16 years in government, which period is referred to with nostalgia as the golden years of governance in Nigeria.

“The National Working Committee of the PDP, desirous of revamping the party in line with the vision of its founding fathers, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, appointed me as the acting National Chairman to lead the charge to rekindle the hope and aspiration of our teeming members especially the youths, critical stakeholders and generality of Nigerians who wish to see a political party that is ready and willing to play the role of effective opposition in the quest to develop our democracy and seek for responsible and responsive government in our country.”

Mohammed pledged that the NWC, under his direction, would always treat all members equally, irrespective of their standing, position, or state within the party, and would rigorously uphold the party’s constitution.

He said, “In this regard, my primary goal, focus, and mandate in the onerous assignment is to restore the confidence of our members by immediately setting in motion the process to hold the long overdue National Executive Committee meeting of our party already scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2024.

“In line with the provision of our party’s constitution, the North Central Zone, which is constitutionality entitled to produce a replacement to serve out the tenure of the former National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, is hereby requested to urgently meet and forward its nominee to my office for necessary preparation and forwarding for consideration and approval by NEC at the October 24, 2024 meeting.”