PDP's NWC has suspended Damagum, Anyanwu

Exactly four hours after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) directed its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Adeyemi, to step aside, a counter statement ordering the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, and the party’s National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu, has emerged.

The statement, which was signed by Ologunagba, disclosed that the suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu was effected by the party’s National Working Committee after considering allegations of gross violation of the party’s constitution.

Ologunagba’s statement, which was released at exactly 3:18 am on Friday and titled “Press Release on the Decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP on the Reported Anti-Party Activity by the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu,” read: “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, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/PH/307/2024 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 of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary, which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.

“Consequently, the NWC, pursuant to Sections 57, 58, and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party, respectively, and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.

“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities, and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of the investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”