Sharp divide emerges in PDP House caucus meeting on acting chairman Damagun's tenure

Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere speaks at a press conference organised by the PDP’s G60.

The meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives ended in commotion with the lawmakers sharply divided along the lines of those in support of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damgun and those against his continued stay in office.

The meeting summoned by the leader of the caucus and House minority leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, was held on Tuesday at House Committee Room 301, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, ahead of Thursday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.

However, the main agenda of the pre-NEC meeting, which was to pass vote of confidence on Damagun by lawmakers allegedly loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, could not sail through.

This was as a group of about 60 lawmakers maintained their ground that the acting chairman should resign and someone from the North-Central zone take the position.

They also insisted on the expulsion of Wike and any other politician allegedly involved in anti-party activities.

Recall that last week, a group of 60 PDP federal lawmakers threatened to quit the party if the doctored list of the caretaker committees in Rivers and 10 other states, which was purportedly filled with the names of members and loyalist of the All Progressive Congress (APC), is not nullified.

The group, under the aegis of Opposition Lawmakers Coalition, also demanded the resignation of the acting chairman of PDP, Damagun to pave way for a person from the North-Central zone to emerge as acting chairman of the party pending the conduct of convention as required by the party’s constitution.

The coalition, at a press conference addressed by their spokesperson and the member representing Ideato Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said they cannot be in a political party where the party’s activities are determined by another political party.

A member of the Ugochinyere-led coalition who revealed the outcome of the meeting on the condition of anonymity said the move to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun failed.

The lawmaker expressed satisfaction that the plan by the faction supporting Damagun collapsed swiftly, despite their attempts to provoke party turmoil. He said: “Damagun must step down for someone from the North-central region to complete Ayu’s term.”

He also emphasised the urgent need for a thorough overhaul and reform within their party, highlighting the concerning alignment of the current PDP leadership with the APC, which poses a threat of handing over the party to the opposition.

He reiterated their insistence on the uncompromised formation of caretaker PDP executive lists nationwide, adhering strictly to the earlier resolution that outgoing executives should serve as caretakers for three months until substantive elections are held. He also pledged their commitment to serving the Nigerian people rather than yielding to the interests of a few self-serving politicians and ensuring that their party does not succumb to the influence of the APC.