A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
The faction also suspended the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade.
The suspension was announced on Friday by the party’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, in a statement.
Following its 593rd meeting on Thursday, the NWC instructed Ologunagba and Ajibade to step down while an investigation into the allegations against them is conducted.
The NWC formed a committee, led by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the allegations against those who were suspended.
In a new development, Ologunagba also announced the suspension of Damagun and Anyanwu.
The statement partly read, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has thoroughly reviewed the numerous complaints against Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum, and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, particularly concerning the letter they sent to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/PH/307/2024. This letter opposed the party’s stance in the case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats after defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
The NWC criticized the Acting National Chairman and National Secretary for engaging in actions that went against the party, stating that this was a serious violation of the PDP Constitution (amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.
As a result, the NWC, in accordance with Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution, suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu from their roles as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, and referred the matter to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
