Rivers political crisis continues to deepen, leading to the suspension of several key national officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As of Friday morning (Oct 11), four officers, including acting national chairman Umar Damagum, faced suspension.
The barrage of suspension claims originated from different factions within the party’s national working committee (NWC). Interestingly, this turmoil stems from the ongoing feud between Nyesom Wike and Gov. Sim Fubara.
On Friday, a faction of the PDP’s NWC sacked Damagum and national secretary Samuel Anyanwu. Allegations of disloyalty prompted these suspensions.
Earlier, the National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade and National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba experienced similar actions. Their suspensions arose from a different faction within the NWC, exposing deep divisions in the party.
In a surprising twist, Ologunagba announced the suspensions of Damagum and Anyanwu. The statement criticized them for addressing the Court of Appeal without party approval. This issue relates to a case involving 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Notably, these members left the PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), complicating matters further. Consequently, a faction of the NWC condemned Damagum and Anyanwu’s actions as violations of the party’s constitution.
As a result, both officials were suspended and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee. They cannot participate in any meetings or activities pending the investigation.
Rivers political crisis challenges the PDP
Since 2023, the PDP has grappled with internal crises. Both Ologunagba and Ajibade have emerged as key voices, urging adherence to party rules.
The PDP’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, confirmed these developments. In a statement, she announced the formation of an investigative committee. This committee, led by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, will investigate the concerns raised against the suspended officials.
Furthermore, the committee will act according to the party’s Constitution. Thus, the Rivers political crisis continues to impact the PDP’s stability.
The party faces significant challenges ahead. Unity and strict adherence to constitutional processes are essential. Ultimately, only time will reveal how these issues will be resolved.
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