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Barely 24 hours after an Abuja Federal High Court stopped its November 15 convention, the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist on Saturday with the National Working Committee (NWC) breaking into two. Each faction announced the suspension of key officials in an added dimension to the raging crisis in the leading opposition party. One faction of the NWC, chaired by the National Chairman, Umar Damagum, suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Honourable Umar Bature, after a meeting held at the Legacy House annex of the party in Abuja on Saturday. Also suspended by the Damagum group were the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha. The group accused the four party officials of committing anti-party activities by acting in several ways in breach of its constitution. The Damagum-led NWC referred all of them to its National Disciplinary Committee for further action. The suspension is for a period of 30 days, during which they shall not undertake any responsibilities on behalf of the PDP. Announcing the suspension, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, listed offences he said the party considered as “anti-party”, forcing the NWC to suspend them. Ologunagba explained that under Section 58 of the party’s constitution, the following are considered “anti-party” offences: “any member that says or does anything that will bring the party to disrepute, hatred or contempt, disobeys or neglects lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party, or engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party, or likely to cause disaffection in the conduct of the business of the party.” While the suspension subsists, the party, pursuant to Section 36(2) of its constitution, mandated the Deputy National Secretary, Honourable Setonji Koshoedo, to act as the National Secretary. In the absence of the National Legal Adviser and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, the PDP also directed the National Director of Legal Services, Barrister Jacob Otorkpa, to oversee the functions of the department. But in a swift response, Anyanwu, who convened a separate NWC meeting in his capacity as National Secretary, also announced the suspension of Damagum and other key party officials. Besides the National Chairman, the Anyanwu camp also suspended the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo; the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyiendikoro; and the National Youth Leader, Mohammed Kadede. All the officials, according to Anyanwu, were suspended for 30 days and referred for disciplinary action for reportedly acting in breach of the constitution of the party and relevant electoral laws. “Some members of the NWC have caused disaffection that made some of our governors leave the PDP for another party. “We have decided to suspend Damagum for incompetence, misappropriation of party funds and disregard for court orders,” Anyanwu announced at a media briefing he held at his Abuja office. According to him, the NWC, following a review of the state of affairs in the party, nominated the National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, to act as the National Chairman while Damagum serves his suspension. In place of Ologunagba, his NWC announced the National Director of Publicity, Dr Chinwe Nnorom, to act as the spokesman of the party while Ologunagba is on suspension for 30 days. Despite the latest development, Anyanwu denied that the PDP now had two NWCs, insisting that the party remained united. He praised the Abuja High Court for Friday’s judgment, noting that it provided a window for the party to correct its mistakes in the tasks ahead. “The party is strong and we still believe in the party. We are united,” he stressed. Abdulrahman, Bature, the National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Obi, and some party members from the South-East attended the session. The party has, since July 24, been planning for the November 15 National Elective Convention, fixed for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, with at least 15 sub-committees already inaugurated. However, some key party leaders and stakeholders, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, and the NWC, failed to agree on certain issues such as the zoning of offices and the holding of zonal/state congresses. On at least two previous occasions, Damagum and Anyanwu had written counter letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the congresses of the party in Cross River, Plateau, Kebbi and Akwa Ibom states. Three weeks ago, Anyanwu also petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), INEC and the Nigeria Police Force, alleging that an August 25 letter the party wrote to INEC to intimate the commission about the Ibadan convention had his forged signature appended to it. Although the PDP later dismissed Anyanwu’s allegation by presenting a file copy of the letter and other letters the secretary signed relating to the convention, the security agencies commenced investigations into the matter. Amid the development, three aggrieved members of the party, namely Honourable Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Honourable Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), dragged the PDP to court, asking it to stop the convention on the grounds of violations of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the PDP’s constitution. The plaintiffs complained of the alleged exclusion of many stakeholders from preparations for the convention, among other issues, seeking the intervention of the court to halt it. On Friday, October 31, Justice James Omotosho, delivering judgment in the case, cited a breach of the 1999 Constitution, the PDP Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, and accordingly halted the convention. In its reaction, the Damagum-led NWC, while declaring that it would continue with plans for the convention, also stated that it would appeal the judgment, which it described as an “assault on democratic processes.” On Saturday, the NWC took the additional step of suspending Anyanwu and three other officials in a move interpreted as punishment for allegedly frustrating efforts at hosting the convention. Hours later, Anyanwu also hit back with his list of suspensions. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
