The internal discord within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated, with loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar increasingly vocal against Ambassador Umar Damagum’s ongoing role as acting national chairman.
These loyalists contend that Damagum’s position, initially intended as a temporary measure, has now overstayed its welcome.
In response, Atiku’s supporters are reportedly mobilizing legal teams, led by notable Senior Advocates of Nigeria, to contest a court order that currently bars the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) from ousting Damagum.
A source within the NEC, stated, “We are indeed appealing the court’s ruling. Referring back to our 98th NEC meeting on April 18, it was decided that the National Working Committee (NWC) should organize congresses in states where executive tenures have expired and lay the groundwork for a successor to Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, who stepped down from his role.”
The source expressed frustration over Damagum’s alleged maneuvers to maintain his position, noting, “For inexplicable reasons, Damagum has fabricated excuses to retain his acting role, deliberately avoiding the convening of the NEC.”
Complicating matters further, it was revealed that Damagum had allegedly encouraged his allies in Yobe State to file a lawsuit aimed at preventing the Board of Trustees and NEC from removing him from his acting chairmanship.
“It’s perplexing that a person claiming to prioritize the party’s welfare would resort to legal action to obstruct key discussions from our NEC agenda,” the NEC member added.
“Damagum remains the Deputy National Chairman (North), a title he still holds. We have a message for him: he cannot indefinitely serve as acting chairman. This court ruling, or whatever it may be, will be contested and overturned.”
The tensions within the PDP is particularly pronounced between Atiku Abubakar’s faction and that of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
